opening a pet store?

Question

I am thinking of opening up a pet store in my home town, the closest thing we have where I live is an hour to two away, and the stores are always messy, too crowded to walk in and more importantly the conditions that the animals are forced to live in are horrible !!!
I want a store where the animals are treated like they are at home and not always in cages.
I have an idea for the location, but I have no clue how to even start looking into grants for funding, companies for the merchandise to sell,etc.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I just want to add that I want to do this because I am an
animal lover and can't stant the thought of making pet and pet supply purchases from a company that supports puppy mills.
This also means that the animals will be purchased from local breeders so that I can personally check their previous living conditions.I also want to work with local pet shelters for finding homes for abandoned animals by offering adoption services.

Answer 1

Shelters being not for profits can find lots of funding. The director of such a place can draw a reasonable salary.
I'd think of a career that involves getting some education first, like a veterinary technician. This is a 72 credit AAS degree from many community and state colleges. This sort of person would possibly make an ideal director of an animal shelter (take some electives for business or running non-profits).
I have a friend who was a vet tech, now is a veterinary technologist, this is a 128 credit BS degree. He's been working for the same veterinary practice for over 15 years, there's three doctors there and they all consider him their "right hand man".
When he's not working at the practice, he has a kennel and cattery for boarding special needs pets, that need things like medication, that a normal kennel may not do. Vets tend to board animals in small cages and runs, as they really aren't geared for anything other than hospitalization. My friend's business does not provide hospitalization. He has a vet tech helping him. It is a very good business.
The other thing he does is provide veterinary care up to the limit of his license for a shelter. The vets he work for do some work for the shelter at little or differed cost. He draws a token salary from the shelter as well. Basically gas and lunch money. When they are over flowing, he takes some pets in his kennel for them.

Answer 2

Contact your local Small Business Bureau, Chamber of Commerce and look on your city's website. That's the best way to find out how to open a business.
The government doesn't give grants. Don't be fooled into buying the "guide to grant money" and other non-sense. It doesn't exist.
Check the city, state and national websites if you don't believe me.
Go to the library and get a book on how to write a business plan. You will get so much information.
Work retail for a small business. More lessons on the cost of doing business in your neighborhood.

"Local Breeders" are another word for "puppy mill". NEVER support local breeders. The only way we are going to stop the pet overpopulation problem, and the puppy mill horror, is to stop breeding.
People who show their dogs and are really interested helping the breed (the only people who should be breeding), and want the best for the animals, won't sell to a pet store. It's just that simple.

DON'T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER ANIMALS DIE.

That goes double for ALL pet stores.

The shelter idea is a better one. You could host adoption days and have permanent areas where they can live in comfort until adoption.

Consider a "gormet shop". The natural food craze is a big money maker. Natural and gormet pet foods are making big money right now. Sell toys, outfits and "doggie couture" and add to the profits.

Sorry some of this was hard to hear, I've been planning my own store for a while now, and have done TONS of research.

Good luck to you

Answer 3

A reputable breeder would never sell to a pet store. Most breeders want to know exactly where their pups or kittens are going. Meet the family, do a background check of their own. If you want what's best for the animals leave them in a home setting and let people find them from the breeders themselves.

Sell premium quality food and supplies.

I like your plan of helping shelters find homes for their animals. Maybe you can offer a discount on supplies for people who adopt from a shelter.

Answer 4

There are not grants to fund a business. You will have to go to a bank and get a business loan to start up.

Contact the companies of the supplies you want to carry. They will be able to point you in the direction of who to talk to for retail purchases.

Find a location to have your store. Make sure that it is legal to have animals there and that it is zoned properly.

If you are going to have animals loose, make sure that you have the place secured properly and have sanitation stations in place, not only for human saftey, but for the animals as well.

Talk to the local vets and see what they know about animal regulations for stores and if they have discounts available for vaccinations and medical care.

Make sure that you follow all state and local regulations regarding the sale of animals.

Make sure that all potential owners are given animal care literature and know how to take care of the animal properly. Make sure that you don't accidentally perpetuate any animal care myths such as hookbills needing grit and finches needing nests to sleep, in other words, educate yourself as well.

Good luck!

Answer 5

be sure to look up all the laws, rules, and regulations for owning a store