Do you love dogs? Do you want to start your own business?
Why not pair your passion for pets and your business goals. Starting a business related to dogs can be very lucrative because of the relatively low start-up costs.
In addition, finding clients can be pretty easy because 63 million Americans own a dog.
All you need to do is determine what type of business you want to do and START!
Business Ideas Covered
5 Dog Businesses Ideas: Cost, Income, How To Get Started
1) Dog Walking
If you enjoy dogs and love going on walks this is a great opportunity. According to USA Today, millennials spend on average $1,285 per year on their dog. Dog owners want to make sure their fur baby is healthy. But few Americans have time to take their dogs for a walk.
This is where you can turn a hobby of loving animals into a side business. The best way to start is to think of friends, family, or neighbors who would love to give their pooch some exercise.
How much can I expect to make?
According to Care.com, a dog walker can reasonably assume to make $15 – $20 per hour or $10 per 30 minutes. However, you can charge more if you are driving to someone’s home to walk their dog.
What do you need to get started and cost?
All you need to get started with a dog walking business is the following. And the items you’ll need to buy should cost no more than $39.00.
- Leash: $8.00
- Doggie poop bags: $12.00
- Dog treats: $12:00
- Water bowl to go for the dog: $7.00
Are there training programs to start a business like this?
Yes, there are a number of training courses to start a dog walking business. For an inexpensive training program check out Udemy.com. There are a number of resources on YouTube as well as franchise opportunities to get started.
YouTube Training Videos:
Franchise Opportunities:
Resources:
2) Pet Sitting
Ok, if you are not the walking type pet sitting is the next best option. According to the American Pet Product Associating the Boarding & Grooming industry is $6.16 billion in 2017.
I have personally had to pay friends to watch my dog when my wife and I go on vacation. This really is a pretty good money-making opportunity for a side hustle.
There are two different ways to be a pet sitter.
You can have the animal come to you or you can go to the animal’s home.
If you are just starting out and want to do it on the cheap I would recommend going to the animal.
How much can I expect to make?
Pet sitters can earn anywhere from $10-$30 per hour.
Check out Cares.com for profiles on dog sitters in your area. You can create a profile and start advertising your services.
What do I need to get started and cost?
For pet sitting at the animal’s home, there is virtually no need to buy anything to get started.
However, if you are creating your own boarding operation at your home here is what you should get below.
The approximate cost for everything would be $225.00.
- Leash if necessary (depends on the animal): $8.00
- Poop bags: $12.00
- Pet treats: $12:00
- Food/ Water bowl: $13.00
- Food (depends on the animal): $30.00
- Crate to house the animal at night: $100.00
- Pillow/ Blanket for the animal: $50.00
Are there training programs to start a business like this?
Yes, there are a number of training programs out there. There is a Pet Sitter Certification course it cost around $275.00.
However, there are courses on Udemy.com that are cheaper.
YouTube Training Videos:
- Four tips on building a successful pet sitting business
- How much to charge for dog walking and pet sitting
Franchise Opportunities:
Resources:
- How to start a dog sitting business
- How to get a dog sitting job today
- Rover a site where you can post a pet sitting job
3) Dog Running
If you are a dog lover and runner this is the perfect combo. I came across this business idea many years ago when I met a sweaty woman who didn’t want to tell me what she did for a living. She was a professional dog runner.
Dog runners can make more than walkers and you can turn a passion for long-distance running into a career.
If I wasn’t afraid of big dogs I would have started this years ago.
How much can I expect to make?
A local dog running company in Kansas City, KC Dog Runners, charges $30.00 per 30 minutes if you are running your dog once per week.
It becomes cheaper if you are using the service more often than once per week.
What do I need to get started and cost?
The cost to get started is very similar to dog walking. I’m assuming you’re a runner and already have a running outfit. The cost to get started on the dog’s end would be approximately $39.00.
- Leash: $8.00
- Doggie poop bags: $12.00
- Dog treats: $12:00
- Water bowl to go for the dog: $7.00
Are there training programs to start a business like this?
There are not a lot of training programs to start a dog running business. The reason being is you can use the same model of a dog walking business.
However, understand this is different from dog walking.
Dog running is a luxury service and should be priced based on the added benefit a dog receives from running than walking.
YouTube Training Videos:
Franchise Opportunities:
Resources:
4) Dog Poop Scoop Business
Yes, people do not want to go around and pick up their dog’s poop. This is where you can come in to start a business. I live in Kansas City and there are a number of poop picker-upper franchises.
You can easily start this business on your own without a franchise.
However, you will need to have a marketing plan to get your business name out there in your community.
How much can I expect to make?
According to Tim Stone a 22 year veteran in the poop scooping business, a pooper scooper company can charge $45 a month for a once a week service. The typical yard takes about five minutes to walk and remove waste.
Establishing a monthly subscriber base could allow you to make some serious money owning a dog poop business.
60 clients at $45 per month could earn you $32,400 per year.
This means you would need to visit 12 homes per day to scoop each of the 60 homes once per week.
If you were able to scoop the yards in 5 minutes or less the 12 homes would be one hour of work per day in order to earn you $32,400 per year, not a bad business.
Are there training programs to start a business like this?
Yes, there are a number of dog waste removal franchises. As well as YouTube videos and articles. Before you get started with a franchise be sure to do your homework. It would be a good idea to start scooping a couple of yards for cash before you look into the franchise option.
Starting the business before you look for a franchise will do a couple of things for you. First, you will be able to see if you like this business idea. Second, when you search for a franchise you’ll know if the service they provide is worth the money because you have already had a chance to get started in the industry.
YouTube Training Videos:
Franchise Opportunities:
Resources:
- How to start a pet waste removal business
- How much should I charge for my pooper scooper service
- An inside scoop on running a poop scoop company
5) Gourmet Pet Food
Organic is all the rage among everyone these days. It is really important we eat a healthy diet. This same organic health trend is happening in the pet world.
I have seen a number of pet treat shops pop up here in Johnson County, Kansas. This is a great opportunity for someone who loves animals and loves to bake.
How much can I expect to make?
A one-pound bag of gourmet dog treats can sell for as little as $8.00 per bag on Etsy. Check out these dog treats for sale on Etsy for ideas.
You will really need to manage your cost to see how much it cost to produce one pet treat.
What do I need to get started and cost?
To get started all you need are the normal cooking utensils you have in your kitchen. If you are running this operation out of your home the startup cost should be no more than $334.00.
- Cookie Sheet: $2.00
- Mixer: $250.00
- Cookie Cutter: $30.00
- Wooden Spoon: $2.00
- Ingredients: This could be a number of items $50.00
Are there training programs to start a business like this?
There are a number of blogs and sites that give helpful tips on starting a bakery business. I could not find a comprehensive training program for starting a pet bakery (If you find one please let me know).
YouTube Training Videos:
Franchise Opportunities:
Resources:
- How to start a pet bakery
- A complete guide to starting a pet bakery business
- How to price your pet treats, click here
Final Thoughts…
I hope you discovered something from this list of pet businesses. There are millions of money-making ideas but I wanted to find the ones that are truly pet-related so you can mix your passion for animals with your entrepreneurial spirit.
The power of making these into money opportunities is to start. Over time your little business could become a full-time job.
