Top 5 Pet Business Start Up Ideas

Pet ownership across the US is at an all time high with around 70% of households reporting to have owned at least one pet in 2020. 

With an increasing number of pets comes an increased willingness to fork out for services to keep them happy and healthy. 

Did you know that the average American spends around $1,207 per month on their pets?

With the market continuing to increase there’s never been a better time to start your own pet service business. 

What type of pet business is best for you? 

Are you a geek when it comes to behavior and science? Perhaps becoming a dog trainer or behaviorist would suit.

Are you an avid hiker? Perhaps an unconventional dog walking business would be best

Are you especially artistic and willing to work weekends? Maybe pet photography is your jam.

Do you love to host and care for people and animals? Perhaps you could turn your property into a doggy resort.

Fancy getting dogs fluffy and fancy? Maybe it’s time to retrain as a groomer

In many cases you may want to offer several of these services since pet parents often request and require them all.

Pet service businesses certainly aren’t the only pet businesses, but they are among the easiest and least expensive to get off the ground, and typically have lots of local demand.  

Here are our top 5 pet business start up ideas:

1. Dog Walking

Dog walking is a great low-risk starter business – all you need is some walking shoes, maybe some business cards and some solid liability insurance (do not skip the insurance).

Since so many people who have dogs aren’t able to be with them all the time, trustworthy dog walkers will always have work available. This is a great business model for plannable income since most people will want one or more walks per day or week.

As a professional dog walker, you’ll need a flexible schedule, familiarity with dogs, their needs and body language, and responsibility (since you’ll probably be a key holder for peoples’ homes). This is a great business that can also be expanded into other services such as pet sitting. 

Keep in mind, some pets may be easy to walk and socialize with, while others require a bit more patience or training. It’s important when starting out that you don’t bite off more than you can chew and only work with dogs you feel fit to handle. 

This is a huge business for referrals – so don’t forget to encourage your clients to tell their friends about you.

2. Pet Photography

If you have a flair for art, photography and photo editing you may want to consider trying your hand at pet photography. 

You’ll need to invest in a decent quality camera and have an understanding of the basics of capturing and editing quality images so you can provide your clients with high-quality digital files or prints. 

This is a great pet business idea if you love working closely with animals and their people to create special experiences and want to be involved in intimate moments between pets and their families. 

Consider if you’ll be doing family portraits, end-of-life memories, holiday-themed pictures, photos of shelter animals to help promote adoption, and/or photography for pet businesses for their marketing.

3. Dog Training

Dog training can be a very challenging and rewarding career where you’re often in a position to help pet owners form a deeper understanding and stronger bonds with their dogs. 

Dog trainers are everyday heroes who deliver peace, joy, relief and safety to pets and people everywhere.

If you want to succeed as a professional dog trainer, it’s essential to research the required courses and certifications in your region, along with any practical on-the-job training and experience.

There are online courses for beginners and specialized courses for those wanting to get serious about their education as a qualified dog trainer. There are also special courses for those interested in training emotional support dogs and service dogs. 

Don’t forget, this is another pet business where you’ll have a lot of face-time with your human clients – so you need to be a good teacher and patient leader not just for dogs, but for both ends of the leash.

4. Dog Grooming 

Groomers are always in demand. Since many dog breeds require grooming every 6-8 weeks grooming is a solid bet for a busy business.

Dog grooming services are absolutely essential for the wellbeing of dogs with long coats or hair instead of fur. 

In addition to learning how to cut and style each breed, you can offer specialty spa-like and skin care services for dogs of all ages and sizes. 

There are plenty of great options to consider if you choose to start a dog grooming business, including mobile grooming, or in a shared space with another pet business is ideal too.

One thing’s for sure with grooming, you’ll definitely need to participate in educational courses to learn safe handling and styling of dogs (or cats – many cats need grooming too!)

5. Freelance Writer for Pet Blogs, Brands and Publications

If you’re looking to start a virtual business and have a strong background in writing and marketing, you might want to consider becoming a pet copywriter, pet blogger or ‘pet influencer’. 

If you love pets and are a great writer – this could be a wonderful opportunity for a less ‘hands on’ type of pet business. 

It’s another one that’s super easy to get started, just pop up a simple website with links to your work and you’re good to go.

This is an especially flexible pet business, since you can completely create your own hours, and generally don’t have to meet people in-person.

If you leverage this expertise on social media like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube or even with audio on a podcast, there’s a good chance you can get sponsors and paid collaborations as soon as you have any kind of measurable audience.

Summary

If you’re thinking about starting a pet business – the world is your oyster! 

There are so many opportunities in the pet space so you’re pretty much guaranteed to find something you love and are great at. 

Don’t underestimate the power of providing great customer service, and just doing the basics really well. After that you’ll find what suits you best as you grow and try new things.

Of course anywhere there’s loads of opportunity, there’s also the potential for loads of competition so make sure to keep your eye on local competitors and the services they’re offering to make sure you stay one step ahead of the curve. 

We’ve built Book Your Pet to support dog trainers, dog walkers, pet sitters, groomers, and pet photographers. We aim to fundamentally transform what it’s like to run and grow a pet business and we’d love to support you on your startup journey. 

Get in touch with one of our pet business experts to chat through your business and find out how Book Your Pet can save you time and money, and make life easier for you and your clients – making your growth quicker and more fun!