* Calculations use average data for Russia

700 000₽

Starting investments (mini-market)

200 000 - 300 000 ₽

20-25%

Profitability

From 6 months

Payback period

Pet stores have been and remain one of the most popular ideas for small businesses, with which small retail outlets can still oppose themselves to large chains. What does it take to open a pet store?

Your own pet supply store is perhaps one of the most popular business ideas that comes to the mind of aspiring entrepreneurs. Opening a small pet store requires a relatively small investment, and the business itself seems to be simple to organize and run compared to many other types of small businesses.

Resilience to crises is considered one of the main advantages of pet stores compared to other types of retail. Surprisingly, it is easier for owners to cut their own food costs than to switch to cheaper food for their beloved pet. Therefore, pet stores are experiencing an unstable situation in the Russian economy more easily than other types of retail.

How to register a pet shop

The most convenient organizational and legal forms for opening a pet store are individual entrepreneurs and LLCs. There is no consensus on which form is preferred. But for newcomers to the business who do not plan to work on a large scale and engage in wholesale sales as well, the best option is an individual entrepreneur. The fundamental difference between these two options is that in the event of debt obligations, all the personal property of the entrepreneur can be called upon to fulfill them. The owner of the LLC is solely responsible for the authorized capital of the legal entity, which is 10 thousand rubles (50% of them can be the funds of the project initiator, and the second half - the funds of the attracted investor).

The procedure for opening an IP does not require much time and money. Detailed information on registering an IP can be found in this article. As a form of taxation, it is recommended to choose a simplified system (STS). An application to transfer it (by default, you are assigned the general taxation system) is submitted along with registration. If you are going to conduct only retail trade, then during registration you will be able to select the OKVED code 47.76.2 "Retail trade in pets and pet food in specialized pet stores."

As additional codes according to the latest classification (OKVED-2) for a pet store, you can choose:

47.19 Other retail sale in non-specialized stores

47.73 Retail sale of medicines in specialized stores (pharmacies)

47.74 Retail sale of articles used for medical purposes, orthopedic articles in specialized stores

47.78 Other retail sale in specialized pet stores

47.89 Retail sale in non-stationary trade facilities and markets of other goods

47.91 Retail sale by mail or via the Internet

47.99 Other retail trade outside pet shops, stalls, markets

53.20.31 Courier delivery activities by various modes of transport

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To open a pet store in the selected premises, you will need to obtain permission from the SES and fire supervision. Also keep in mind that in order to sell medicinal products for animals, that is, veterinary drugs, you will need a license, as well as a secondary or higher veterinary education. The same license is used when opening a veterinary pharmacy. In connection with this requirement, small pet stores are often limited to the sale of feed and other pet products, the sale of which does not require licensing.

If you are going to trade animals, you will also need the appropriate veterinary certificates. All animals presented in the pet store will have to undergo an examination by a veterinarian, as a result of which a certificate is issued that confirms the absence of diseases in animals.

Choosing the format and premises of the pet store

The search for premises should be started even before the IP registration procedure, since registration is carried out within 3 days, while it may take more than one month to search for a place. First, decide on the format of your store. There is no clear classification of such, but it is conditionally possible to distinguish several types of outlets.

kiosks and small counter-type pet stores with a narrow assortment. The most common pet store format. Most often, these are retail outlets with a minimum area (10-15 square meters), where consumer goods are sold - food for cats and dogs, pet care products and a minimum set of accessories.

pet stores with a wider range of pet supplies- counter-type or self-service stores of a larger area (usually from 20 to 70 square meters), where not only consumer goods, but also rare and expensive feed, animals, veterinary drugs, etc. can be sold.

highly specialized pet stores- shops focused on a certain type of animal, for example, goods for lovers of aquarium fish, amphibians and reptiles, rare and expensive food stores, etc. Pet stores with a narrow assortment are found only in the largest cities of the country; in small towns, such points are unprofitable.

For the most part, pet supplies take up little space, so on an area of ​​​​20-30 squares you can easily place a fairly wide range of them. The amount of rent will depend on the region, location, area, conditions of the premises, traffic and many other factors.

Average rental value of commercial premises of various sizes in Russia, RUB*

*according to the analysis of ads on the Avito website as of 03/20/2019

The place must meet several requirements:

convenient location;

proximity to busy roads (and preferably to a veterinary clinic);

high permeability;

no competitors nearby.

Ready-made ideas for your business

Before you start looking for a space, study the density of competition in your city using online map services. As a rule, in the city center it will be the highest, but new residential areas may lack pet stores.

The most difficult thing for individual pet stores is to coexist and compete with chain stores: the prices in the latter will be much more preferable and lure customers away. But networkers are mainly concentrated in the largest cities of the country. For example, in Moscow, according to the 2GIS service at the end of March 2019, there are 975 pet stores, and more than 68% of them are chain stores - that is, those that have 2 or more outlets. Moreover, a little less than half of this number (423 points) falls on large retail chains, numbering from 20 pet stores. At the same time, if we compare the Moscow market with the Krasnodar market (169 pet stores), we can note that the share of chain pet stores does not exceed 38% (64 pet stores). Moreover, exactly half of this number (32 stores) falls on the two largest chains of the city.

Ready-made ideas for your business

In addition to the area, the location of your pet store is also important. It can be opened in a separate building (on the ground floor, in the basement) or in a shopping and entertainment center (SEC). The latter option would be ideal if it were not for the high cost of rent, as well as the increased risks of the emergence of competitors from among networkers, with whom it is difficult to compete in prices. But a pet store in a separate building has one advantage over a point in a shopping center: pet owners can enter it along with their pets. This is important if you are also going to be selling dog clothes that require you to try them on before making a purchase.

When choosing a place for a store, study the traffic (traffic is calculated on weekdays in the morning, afternoon and evening, as well as on weekends at different times). It also takes into account the presence of direct and indirect competitors, their range and pricing policy. If all conditions are satisfied, a lease agreement is concluded. The main thing that you should find out after you find the desired premises is why the previous tenants did not take root in the old place. Good places are usually not empty.

How to form the assortment of a pet store

A convenient location is undoubtedly a plus for your pet store, but it is far from the only condition for its success. People should find not only your store, but also the product they need in it. Therefore, carefully consider the range of products that will be presented in your store. Regardless of its format, product groups usually remain unchanged. These are food and various treats, animal care products (shampoos, brushes, nail clippers, etc.), accessories and medicines. In addition, clothes and furniture for pets (mainly cat houses, scratching posts and dog beds) are in good demand.

What exactly will be included in a particular product category, which brands to choose and which price category to focus on depends on the area where your outlet is located. In this case, the preferences of the inhabitants of the area and the species diversity of animals are of decisive importance. It is almost impossible to predict in advance which food will “go” and which will not, as well as analyze how many bird, fish or rodent lovers live in your area.

Part of the approximate picture can be obtained by carefully studying the range of other similar pet stores located nearby, but this does not always work. As the entrepreneurs themselves note, in one area of ​​the city, for example, dogs of large breeds may prevail, and in another - small ones (however, a relationship can be established here. For example, by counting the number of private houses in the yards of which large dogs are often kept for protection, and apartment buildings, where residents usually keep small animals), residents of one area prefer to keep birds, and residents of another prefer rodents ...

Ready-made ideas for your business

Speaking in general, cats and dogs are in the first place in terms of popularity among Russian pets, there are about 30 and 20 million of them in Russia, respectively. However, there is a lot of competition in this segment. Much less common are rodents and birds. Feed and equipment for keeping amphibians, insects, reptiles and fish can also be included in the assortment, but these positions should not only not prevail, but also occupy some significant share of the assortment. They can become a competitive advantage if a rare pet lover comes to you looking for something that he could not find in other pet stores in your area.

Pet products in high demand:

dog food;

cat food;

cat litter;

insect and tick repellents (including collars);

shampoos for animals;

"bones" and other delicacies, toys;

ammunition for dogs;

cat carriers, cages, etc.

The most popular items in the pet store are pet food and litter for toilets. Therefore, these positions sometimes account for up to 80% of the total assortment. But you won’t earn much on them, since the margin on them is less than on other positions.

Therefore, the optimal ratio between feed and accessories in the assortment of a retail outlet is 50% to 50% or even 60% to 40%. For feed, again, preferences may vary, so at the very beginning of work, do not try to save on the purchase of goods by purchasing feed in large packages right away. It is better to try to cover a larger assortment range, albeit in small quantities (this applies not only to packaging, but also to the number of positions). Let in the first weeks you have to go to the wholesale base more often or contact suppliers, but you will not accumulate illiquid assets, which will later be difficult to get rid of. You can also consult with suppliers on the selection of the range of the pet store, finding out the list of the most purchased goods from them.

To identify the preferences of your customers, do not forget to ask your store visitors what kind of pets they have, what kind of food they prefer. Offer them the services of purchasing large packages of food on order, which will be more profitable for them than buying food in bulk or in small packages. Keep in mind that large-sized feeds are usually purchased by owners of adult dogs and puppies of large breeds. But cat lovers and owners of small dogs prefer to take food in small bags, because, in their opinion, in large bags it quickly disappears. Inside the pet store, observe the principle of separation of goods, showcases for cats and dogs should be decorated separately.

If your pet store is located in the city center, in a shopping and entertainment center (whose visitors are usually more solvent) or close to an animal beauty salon (in large cities there are such specialized establishments), then you can also include a small amount of goods in the assortment premium segment - stylish clothes for small dogs of the Chihuahua, toy terrier, spitz, unusual carrying bags, etc. But still, it is better to bring these categories to order, offering customers to choose the items they are interested in from catalogs.

As for suppliers, it is better not to focus on the goods of one company, but to buy products from different companies, choosing where prices are cheaper and the range is wider. The store owner should go to negotiations with suppliers himself in order to evaluate the goods and agree on better conditions.

Pet Shop Staff: Requirements and Salary Level

In a store that sells exclusively feed and accessories, there are no requirements for staff. However, if veterinary drugs are traded, then you need to have a certified specialist in the field of veterinary pharmaceuticals with a higher or secondary veterinary education and work experience of at least 3 years. In any case, experience in sales and working with people is also highly desirable.

A pet store sales assistant must know almost everything about animals in order to help the buyer with the choice of food, medicines, vitamins and flea products. Since most pet owners are amateurs, the sales assistant should be able to recommend in time to buyers the goods necessary for their pets, which the former often forget about, for example, flea remedies - anthelminthic remedies. Most often, the duties of sales assistants in small pet stores are quite wide: they are engaged in the display of goods, and work with the cash register, and advise customers, and keep order.

Wages for pet store employees are usually based on a “salary plus percentage of sales” scheme. On average in Russia, judging by the ads on the hh.ru website, employers offer pet store employees a salary of 27,000 rubles.

In Moscow and St. Petersburg, salaries can be 2-2.5 times higher. The number of employees and their schedule is determined depending on the size of the pet store and the mode of operation. For a small pet store, even two sellers are enough. It is possible to reduce the cost of wages when the store owner himself becomes behind the counter. In addition to paying salespeople, you need to consider the cost of an accountant, who is best hired for outsourcing. For a wide-format store, it is worth thinking about separating responsibilities and hiring an administrator, sales assistants, a cleaning lady, etc.

Pet Store Franchises: Pros and Cons

Opening a franchise store can be a beneficial step not only for aspiring entrepreneurs, but also for those who are looking to save on purchases. One of the key benefits of buying a pet store franchise is the opportunity to receive discounts and chain privileges. Due to the fact that the chain purchases large volumes of pet products, it has a solid discount from suppliers. Often, pet store chains are opened by distributors themselves.

Typically, companies offer approximately the same franchise package. In addition to exclusive terms of delivery, it includes assistance in the selection of premises and the formation of an assortment, the rules for laying out goods, promotional materials, and a staff training program. Thanks to the franchise, the issue of documents for the trade in veterinary drugs and animals is resolved much faster and easier, since the parent company already has some of the papers. Often, the franchisee has the opportunity to connect to a ready-made online store.

Since cooperation with a large company usually involves a large lump-sum fee, not everyone is ready to buy a franchise. Do not attach excessive importance to the branding of the company. The most appropriate purchase of a franchise will be only if there are pet stores in your city, and the network itself is popular with the population. Otherwise, a brand from another city will mean absolutely nothing to a local buyer.

We calculate the income and expenses of the pet store

What investments will you need to make in a pet store?

To open a small counter-type pet shop with an area of ​​​​10 square meters. meters in the region, it will take 400-500 thousand rubles. It will take about 700 thousand rubles to open in the mini-market format. If we talk about opening a pet store with an area of ​​​​50 square meters. meters on average will require from 1.5 million rubles, and a large store with an area of ​​​​100 square meters - at least 2.5 million rubles.

Starting costs, in addition to purchasing goods for a pet store, include repairs (the design of pet stores does not play a big role, so investments in this article are not large), shelving, display cases, cash equipment and software. Racks are selected depending on the types and dimensions of your products. Keep in mind that food in large packages take up a lot of space. They are usually placed on the floor in order to save space. Feed in small packages is displayed on the racks, and various small items (pet toys, medicines, treats, accessories, etc.) are placed on the showcase. It is also desirable to include rent for 2 months in the amount of starting costs.

For the purchase of commercial equipment for a pet store with an area of ​​​​about 50 square meters. meters will require about 100-150 thousand rubles. Glass showcases can be made to order. One glass box will cost 10-15 thousand rubles, but in any case it will be more profitable than installing anti-theft equipment, which costs at least 70-80 thousand rubles plus materials for marking each heading.

The daily revenue of small pet stores in practice rarely exceeds 10-15 thousand rubles, while larger pet stores can sell 30-80 thousand rubles a day. The average markup on products sold is 50% (depending on the product category, it can vary between 35-65%). For the most popular items (popular food and toilet fillers), the margin is usually less (15-25%), and for less popular items, it can sometimes reach up to 200%. The optimal commodity stock is determined by the value of commodity balances in the amount of two-month proceeds at purchase prices.

It is easy to calculate that a store, for example, with an area of ​​30 square meters, working with two employees and an outsourced accountant, will not go negative if the revenue exceeds at least 150 thousand rubles per month. The key costs of the main period will be salaries to employees (about 90 thousand rubles including deductions) and rent (about 30 thousand rubles). Pet stores, regardless of formats, begin to pay off no earlier than after six months of work. The profitability of a business in the trade in pet products is usually at the level of 20-25%.

According to the owners of pet stores, you should not hope for a big profit from one point. Having decided on the assortment, having worked out the sales technology, having received the most favorable conditions from suppliers, entrepreneurs, as a rule, open the next similar store in another district of the city. A good profit will bring at least three to five outlets located around the city.

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Reading 9 min. Published on 27.11.2019

An interesting idea for a novice entrepreneur may be to open your own pet store. From an economic point of view, the attractiveness of such a business is quite obvious, because according to statistics, every third family has a cat, and every fifth family has a dog. There are also lovers of aquarium fish, birds and hamsters. The demand for pet products is stable at any time of the year, so we can talk about the profitability of the business. The main thing is to correctly determine the range of the desired products and draw up a competent business plan.

Opening a pet store: business pros and cons

As with any business activity, opening a pet store has its pros and cons:

Since there are still more advantages in opening this business, it makes sense to invest in a pet store. The decisive importance in the promotion of the idea is given to the competent territorial location of the premises and a carefully selected assortment.

What documents are needed to open a pet store from scratch requirements and permits

In order to work calmly, and not wait for the arrival of regulatory authorities, it is better to immediately legalize your business.

How to start preparing all the necessary documentation:

1. Naturally, the first step should be the registration of an enterprise in the status of an LLC or individual entrepreneur. Registration as an individual entrepreneur is advisable if the area of ​​the pet store is less than 50 m2, and the planned turnover will be small. Registration of the status of a legal entity (LLC) makes it possible to conclude contracts with wholesale suppliers, obtain a license to sell medicines if there is a veterinarian in the staff.
2. The next step is to obtain permits from the SES and the fire inspectorate. They will be issued based on the report of commissions that will visit the establishment to verify its compliance with current regulations.
3. You will also need permits from the environmental society and the veterinary service.
4. License for the sale of veterinary drugs.
5. OKVED codes (47.76.2; 46.38.22; 46.11, etc.) and the optimal taxation system (USN or ENDV).
6. Registration of the cash register.

An entrepreneur will have to spend several months and about 70,000 rubles on collecting and processing the necessary documentation. Professionals will solve all issues faster.

What do you need to organize a pet store from scratch?

To start a pet store from scratch, you will need not only the official registration of the enterprise and obtaining work permits. We will have to solve a lot of organizational issues related to the choice of premises and the purchase of equipment, interior design and promotional activities, staffing and selection of assortment. But first things first.

Location

According to experts, the most successful option for the location of a pet store may be its placement in a veterinary clinic or on the territory of a hotel for animals. This is due to the fact that people with animals regularly come to such institutions. It is this category of visitors that is most interested in purchasing goods in a pet store.

If the implementation of such an option is unrealistic, then you can open a store in any other passage place, it is not necessary that these be the central streets. You can even rent a small room in a large shopping center or in a residential area.

The main thing is that the outlet is located on the ground floor of the building and has a front entrance, a sign over which can be used as an advertisement. It should be bright and memorable.

Pet shop space

To choose the right room for a pet store, first of all, you need to decide on its format:

• For the functioning of a small stall, 8-10 m2 is enough.
• An average pet store will require a room of 50-80 m2.
• Well, a supermarket for animals should be located on an area of ​​at least 100-150 m2. In this case, it is better for an entrepreneur to rent a separate one-story building.

With a sufficient area of ​​the pet store, the best solution would be to allocate thematic zones in it. For example, these can be departments: "All for cats", "Aquarium", "Clean paws", "Poultry" and so on. Store visitors will be able to more conveniently and purposefully decide on purchases.

To save money, it is best to rent a ready-made and adapted for work premises in a non-residential fund. This makes it easier to get all the necessary permissions and open your store faster.

Furniture and interior design

In pet stores, you rarely see interesting interior solutions and you can play on this to attract visitors. A colorfully designed façade with funny animal prints, as well as aquariums or bird cages displayed in the display windows, are likely to arouse shoppers' interest and desire to visit the store. Inside, the interior can be complemented by paintings of pets, funny plush toys “living” on the windowsills, and original furniture. Fresh flowers and plants will become an excellent decoration for the store and an excellent background for living creatures. Here's something you shouldn't skimp on!

Proper placement of cages, terrariums and aquariums will allow them to be viewed from all sides. The best option for their installation would be special podiums. If you suddenly want to update the interior, then shelving on wheels will come to the rescue. They can be moved in any direction, easily creating different compositions. However, without closed shop windows, a work table and counters, the list of furniture will be incomplete.

Reference . Only food and large items can be freely accessed. Veterinary drugs must be placed in closed display cases.

Equipment and inventory

As for the arrangement of the stall for the sale of feed, then equipping it is as easy as shelling pears. It is enough to install racks and table scales - that's all the equipment.

It will be more difficult to decide on a pet store, because the purchase will require significant costs:

• Refrigeration equipment (cabinet and showcase) - 77,000-80,000 rubles.
• Cash counter - 3,000 rubles.
• Animal heating lamps, UV radiation systems - 5 580-76 130 rubles / piece.
• Cages, aquariums, terrariums - from 1950 rubles / piece.

Moreover, ordinary cages used at home are not suitable for keeping animals in a store. They must have a certain margin of safety, be easy to clean, and so on.

The installation of electrical equipment will also be a costly part. But you can’t do without it, because many of the animals need lighting. If an entrepreneur still does not have enough funds or experience to keep large breeds, then at first he can start selling small animals - hamsters and budgerigars. They do not need special care and can be kept in regular cages.

Range

Professionals know how difficult it is to form the right assortment immediately after opening a store. Usually, this, taking into account the specifics of the region, takes about three months. At first, in order to establish a trade, you can borrow the experience of existing pet stores, and then use your own developments.

According to experts, the greatest profit for the business is brought by animal feed. Food for cats and dogs is best bought up, a little worse for rodents and birds. The second most popular product group is tray fillers and care products. The sale of cages, aquariums, food bowls, cat houses, pet care literature also brings some profit, but it does not compare with the sale of food. However, the assortment of the store should be varied, as the quantity and quality of goods affect the level of sales and profitability of the business.

The ratio of product groups in the assortment of the pet store as a percentage:

Staff

The selection of employees in a pet store is undoubtedly an important step in the development of a successful business. Moreover, this business is distinguished by a certain specificity - work with animals. That is why only people with a veterinary education can apply for the position of sales consultants. At a minimum, there should be 2 sales assistants in the store. Of the professional qualities they must have: sociability, desire to learn, knowledge of the topic. Salespeople will have to spend 40,000 rubles a month on salaries. plus 10% of revenue.

Who else to invite to work:

1. Store directors . At first, an entrepreneur can himself perform the functions of a director.
2. Veterinarian . It doesn't have to be enlisted. He can work independently, leading a private appointment.
3. accountant . With a small turnover and in the process of promotion, accounting can be ordered from an outsourcing company. The monthly cost of such a service will cost 2,600-3,300 rubles.
4. Cleaning woman . The salary of a cleaner is usually 12,000 rubles.

If the store will be a family affair, then try to manage on your own, without involving outsiders.

Marketing and advertising of a pet store: how to promote a business from scratch?

Even the best pet store should take care of the proper advertising for its promotion at the start of the project.

When asking the question of how to promote a business from scratch, you can get many solutions:

• The original design of shop windows and bright signs will certainly attract the attention of passers-by to the store.
• Posting advertisements at stops, billboards and in transport will cover a significant resource of potential buyers.
• Promotion of the store through social networks and thematic groups on the Internet will expand the audience of customers.

In addition, it would be a good idea to conduct all kinds of PR campaigns:

1. Food tasting events.
2. Promotional programs such as "Buy two products for the price of one", "Make a purchase, get a gift".
3. Bonuses and discounts for regular customers.

Ready business plan for a pet store from scratch: calculation of profitability and costs

In its most general form, a business plan is presented as follows:

• The shop is located on the ground floor of the building.
• Its area is 60 m2.
• Number of employees - 3 people.

Startup costs:

Monthly expenses:

The monthly amount spent on the operation of the store will be 167,000 rubles. The average turnover of similar stores is up to 2,750,000 rubles. in year. Subtracting monthly expenses and 10% to sellers, we get a balance of about 470,000 rubles. With a business profitability of 10%, the initial costs will pay off in about 1.5 years.

If you are planning to start trading in pet products, you need not only to choose a profitable location, rent a room and order the first batch of goods, but also carefully consider your marketing strategy. Advertising pet stores is of great importance, because their products are not designed for the widest audience. Therefore, you need to attract the maximum number of customers and make them your regular visitors.

Point decoration

Facade

showcase

pillars

Pedestrians are an excellent means of attracting the attention of passers-by. Remember, only by glancing at this simple design, a passer-by should immediately understand what kind of store it is and what it sells. That is why you should not write half of the assortment and prices on it in small print - a large inscription, a picture depicting animals and a list of the main categories of goods, for example, feed, medicine, etc. will be enough.

Advertising in elevators

If you are located in a residential area, it will not be superfluous to order advertising in elevators. It should be, first of all, noticeable against the background of other advertisements. Moreover, on an advertising poster, it is best to write about some promotion that is attractive to customers.

Pointers

Pointers are especially relevant if your pet store is in the shade of trees, around the corner, in a place that is not so open to the eye. You can use both simple pointers - arrows with the inscription "pet shop", and full-fledged banners with an arrow showing the right direction.

Internet advertising

Website

The effectiveness of a pet shop website as an advertising tool will depend on several factors. So, your own page on the global network is simply necessary for large companies and online stores, while if you work in a small city, and the basis of your audience is residents of a certain microdistrict, creating your own website will become inappropriate.

If you decide to create a website on your own, be sure to read our articles:

Here we have laid out our experience and opinions on the use of various tools that you will simply need in your work. This will allow you to reduce the time to select the necessary resources to create it and get profit from the site as quickly as possible.

Groups in social networks

In general, owners of small pet stores do not have to start a page on a social network - it is far from certain that you will gain the required number of subscribers. However, this method of promotion is not too expensive and can be beneficial for you: if you are ready to organize promotions such as a “feed for repost package”, give discounts to subscribers and advertise your VKontakte group in larger groups in your city, this will be a good means of attracting customers.

Printable advertisement

Leaflets

Flyers and booklets will help you expand your customer base. Remember, most people take a quick look at a flyer and then immediately throw it away. That is why it is better to write about the promotion in large print or, even better, offer a discount to the bearer of the leaflet.

word of mouth

In any business, reputation is the main engine of success. Keep track of the quality of the goods, its constant availability in the warehouse, the work of employees, try to serve each client perfectly - if the visitor is satisfied, he will bring his acquaintances and friends with him.

What Ads Don't Work for Pet Stores

1. Billboards, advertising on transport. The argument against billboards is simple - more often than not, they are too expensive for newly opened, small shops. As for images on transport, such an action is simply ineffective for this business.
2. Advertising on radio and TV. In the media, the reach of the audience is very large, which means that such advertising will be comparable to firing a cannon at sparrows. Moreover, if large chains can afford it, then small stores will simply undermine their own budget without getting any significant benefit.
3. Advertising in newspapers and magazines. It also costs a lot, and is not relevant for pet stores.

Examples of slogans and texts for advertising a pet store

1. Everything for your animals.
2. For those born to be loved.
3. Shop for reasonable owners.
4. Come in, bring the owner!
5. With love and care for your pets.
6. Here come the animals.
7. For the most caring
8. For animal life!
9. More than water.
10. Source of harmony.

Starting your own business is always a risk that justifies possible future prosperity. Owning your own business is a dream for many. But thinking about a potential business, the question arises of which field of activity to give preference to.

This article will discuss how to open a pet supply store, what documents to prepare and what to expect from entrepreneurial activity.

Every entrepreneurial path has its advantages and disadvantages. In the event that the advantages of a business justify its disadvantages, it can be profitable.

Benefits of a pet store:

• demand (at the moment, every third family has a pet that requires care and attention);
• the possibility of obtaining a stable income;
• in case of profitability, it can pay off in a short time;
• the market of pet products is annually enriched with a variety of new assortment;
• average level of competition.

Flaws:

• at first it will be quite difficult to decide on the range of products. After a while, it will be clear what the locals prefer;
• a high degree of risk (its profit will largely depend on how well the store is geographically located);
• a characteristic smell in the room, which is extremely difficult to get rid of;
• a high degree of responsibility for the animals that will be sold in the institution.

As we can see, there are still more advantages, which means that investing your money in the pet business is not such a fantastic idea. The competent territorial location of the store and its business plan play a decisive role in this matter.

The step-by-step process of organizing such a business is presented in the following video:

Required Documents and Permits

In order to start your business, you will need the following list of documents:

• registration . The choice of the first or second format will depend on how large the store you plan to open. For a zoo tent, you can, but a large point will require;
• licenses and certificates for the entire range of products offered due to its specificity;
• veterinary certificates (in case the store sells animals);
• medical certificates for each employee of the future institution.

In addition to the package of documents described above, you may also need permission to trade in a particular premises from the following authorities:

• sanitary and epidemiological station;
• fire protection.

Only after their approval can the work be legal.

Format Options

Immediately after you have assessed your opportunities and risks and collected the required list of documents, you should think about which store format would be more preferable for you. Among all the possible options are the following:

• Large store with a wide range designed for both common animals and exotic species. In it, as a rule, you can also find a variety of types of food, clothing and toys. And the staff of sales consultants has more than ten people in one shift.
• An institution of any scale, the main principle of which is self-service. This format allows you to keep only 2-3 sales assistants, who can also be cashiers at the same time.
• Medium size store. The range of this format is quite diverse, but still inferior to the first option. It can sell some types of animals: fish, birds, etc., different types of feed, animal care products and much more.
• small shop, which specializes exclusively in the sale of animal feed and care products. The presence of specific pharmacology is allowed.
• Small Animal Department in a large shopping center or hypermarket, the range of which has a narrow focus.
• Establishment of any size with narrow specialization, which offers products exclusively for cats and dogs, or, conversely, for exotic pets.
• Shop on the Internet or social networks. At the current level of development of trade in the network, this option may well turn out to be cost-effective.
• Opening zoological center. Its peculiarity is that the center includes several departments at once, for example: a veterinary pharmacy, a pet clothing store, possibly a veterinary clinic, and so on.

The choice of one format or another will depend on how solvent the residents of the area where you are going to open an institution.

What are the best animals to trade

Any such store implies the presence of some animals for sale. This is a big responsibility for the owner, but the risk can be justified if you choose the right object of trade.

If you are just opening an establishment and do not yet have a very good idea of ​​how in demand it can be in a particular area, then you should not provide too wide a range of animals. This can be very risky.

It is best to start trading with small kittens, puppies, inexpensive fish and birds.

As the outlet gains its reputation, there will be an opportunity to sell other types of animals, such as iguanas, hamsters, chinchillas and more.

Please note that if you decide to engage in animal trade, you will also need to take care of related products. Otherwise, who wants to buy a chinchilla if you don’t have the opportunity to get specialized food for it.

And one more piece of advice in this regard: at the beginning of the work, you should not start selling expensive pets. Earn the trust of your customers and then it will be possible to think about how to start supplying more expensive copies.

Related products

This is perhaps the rare case when the range of products can be as wide as possible, despite the fact that the quantity of each type of product can be relatively small. Even if the winter down jackets for dogs sold will be sold in a single copy, but you will know that next time they can be ordered from suppliers in several units.

It must be remembered that each pet has a number of features that your potential buyers always strive to take into account. Therefore, let them find everything they need in your institution.

When compiling the proposed assortment, take into account the following list of goods, which can be expanded if necessary:

The success of the enterprise largely depends on the coordinated and trusting work with suppliers. The best option for finding suppliers is the Internet.

Give preference to those that have positive reviews. Equally important is the experience and extensive interaction with different companies.

Paying attention to the price set by suppliers, also find out about the possibility of returning the goods in case the quality does not suit you. Responsible companies always provide this opportunity to their customers.

Location selection

The determining value of the future profitability of the institution is its territorial location. Ideal location for any store regional cities. If you place a retail outlet in a large city, then there is a risk of not being able to withstand the competition and eventually fail.

And as for too remote corners, for example, villages and villages, here such a store most likely will not be in demand.

When starting such a business, carefully research the future location of the store and the solvency of local residents.

Conduct an analysis of the area. If it already has too many pet stores, then it makes sense to consider some other territory.

Necessary equipment and personnel

The number of staff in your establishment will depend on how large it will be. When choosing personnel, pay attention to their education, it is good if it is veterinary. However, there are people who are infinitely imbued with love for our smaller brothers and know more about them than any specialist. Such employees will always be the face of your store.

You will also need the following equipment:

• trade racks of different sizes and designs for the presentation of small and large goods;
• counter and showcase structures;
• houses, aquariums and animal cages (if you are going to sell them);
• customer service equipment (luggage offices, cash registers, etc.).

Restaurant advertising

As you know, advertising is the engine of trade. When opening a point from scratch, try to make as many people as possible know about it. Come up with an original name and a creative slogan. If you have no thoughts on this, contact an advertising agency.

In the first months after the opening, it makes sense to use the services of promoters who distribute leaflets on the streets.

Project costs

Statistics have shown that a successful pet store pays for itself in the first year his work. However, at the start, it will still require serious capital investments. The costs will be directed to:

• rental of premises;
• purchase of goods to be put up for sale;
• the cost of registering an individual entrepreneur or LLC;
• staff payments;
• taxes;
• current expenses.

In the field of private entrepreneurship, one of the most successful business projects, the development of which requires relatively minimal costs, is the opening of a pet store.

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What kind of efforts will have to be made in order for this project to become a consistently profitable business, you can find out from a small instruction on the pet store and everything related to its opening.

How to do it right?

To start your own business from scratch, you need to follow the instructions for opening a pet store, which involves several steps:

1. registration with the tax authorities as an individual entrepreneur or LLC;
2. search for premises for a pet store and signing a lease agreement;
3. registration of premises for a trading platform, purchase of equipment;
4. choice of assortment of a pet store;
5. personnel search;
6. search for regular suppliers and purchase of goods;
7. promotion of an advertising campaign;
8. opening and launching a pet store.

Where is the best place to start a business from scratch?

The easiest way is to start from scratch a business project for a pet store in a small town, where there are either no such trading floors at all, or their range is rather narrow, which already eliminates a high level of competition.

As for the indicators of profitability and payback, it is better to start in a big city - in the center or in one of the large residential areas.

Store staff

The staff of an average pet store includes the following employees:

• 2 sales consultants (1 sales assistant for a small zookio format outlet);
• veterinarian;
• accountant;
• store manager.

Work in the pet shop should be organized in 2 shifts - best of all, 2 people in each shift.

What documents are needed for this?

Opening a store involves obtaining the necessary package of documents, which in the case of a pet store includes:

• licenses for trade in specific goods (feed, vaccines, etc.);
• veterinary certificates (if the store also sells animals);
• permission from fire supervision and SES to trade in a particular room.

The financial side of the issue: is it profitable to open it?

Information on a pet store will be incomplete without mentioning a business plan. The success of the project itself largely depends on the literacy of its compilation.
First of all, the business plan is determined by the type of pet store - it will be a full-cycle store or a service point. The main difference between them is that a full-cycle pet store sells both animals and products for their maintenance and care, while service outlets sell exclusively related products.

pet store business plan

In the context of developing a promising business, it is better to focus on a full-cycle pet store, which most people evaluate as a business project with a medium-high level of success.
This store sells the following product groups:

• animals;
• pet food;
• medicines, vaccines, etc.;
• animal care products;
• accessories for animals.

It should be noted right away that the main profit in a pet store is brought by feed - it is this group of goods that is in stable and high demand.

Accessories and care products also bring high profits, but they cannot be put on the same level with feed. The issue of profit from the sale of live animals is rather ambiguous and depends on the general situation on the market and trends in keeping pets. For example, if keeping chinchillas, which are quite expensive animals, has become fashionable, then, naturally, their sale will bring big profits.

In its most general form, the business plan of an average pet store can be represented as follows:

		Amount, US dollars
Expenditure	Administrative expenses
	Payment of the unified social tax
	Rent
	Payment of wages
	Payment of utility services
	Advertising
	Purchase of goods
	Accounting
	other expenses
	Total expenses (monthly)
Income items	Sales of goods (monthly)

How much does it cost?

Taking into account the minimum prices, the following costs are obtained, which determine the price of the pet store at the time of its opening:

Thus, the price of a pet store that will need to be paid for its successful opening and start of sales will be at least $ 10,000.

On average, according to experts, and confirmed by the experience of working pet stores, this amount is fully paid off in 1 year of the store’s operation, and then the entrepreneur works almost exclusively to increase profits.

If we take into account the net profit from the sale of goods in the amount of $ 15,000 per month, the profitability of the pet store is about 10%, which is quite a high indicator in the modern market of goods.

How to attract customers to the pet store?

Location and design of the pet store

The success of the pet store as a business project directly depends on the literacy of the location and design of the pet store.

Experts advise to follow the following recommendations:

• choose the right area of ​​the premises - in principle, it can be a small kiosk with an area of ​​up to 15m2 and a huge trading floor of 300m2, but in the case of a full cycle pet store, it is best to stop at a room with an area of ​​approximately 150m2;
• it is optimal to place a pet store on large streets with busy pedestrian traffic (in the city center) or on other frequently visited streets (in residential areas);
• it is best to organize a pet shop indoors on the first floors of residential buildings with a convenient entrance from the street;
• the design of the pet store should correspond to the theme of the product - if the area allows, it is optimal to organize thematic departments (“Terrarium”, “Aquarium”, “Bird Yard”, “Cat Room”, etc.);

• prerequisites are the correct grouping and proper arrangement of goods (food, medicines, animal care products and other goods must be placed under different display cases and labeled accordingly).

Advertising campaign

Even the best pet store, located in the perfect location and just as perfectly designed, will not be recognized without proper advertising.

For a full-cycle pet store, it is optimal to conduct an advertising campaign in several directions at once:

• advertising on the pet store itself (creative design of the main showcase, which is visible from the street, bright signs and announcements);
• advertising with placement around the city (here, options are possible from the periodic posting of ordinary advertisements to ordering themed billboards in key points of the city);
• advertising on the Internet (promotion of a pet store through its own website, social groups and thematic communities).

In addition, all kinds of promotions will be an excellent PR move for a pet store: food tastings, the introduction of a discount program for regular customers, offers of profitable programs like “2 for the price of 1” or “Buy a large package of dry food - get a bowl as a gift.”

Video: how to promote your own pet store at the lowest cost

Online store

Today, many entrepreneurs planning to engage in such business projects are trying to organize the trading process exclusively via the Internet - that is, to open an online store, and not a real pet store. Today, online trading is a very promising area.

However, in the case of opening a pet store, a project that exists exclusively on the Internet may be doomed to failure. There are several reasons for this, among which the main one is the specifics of trade, which practically excludes the possibility of buying goods online (we are talking, first of all, about the most popular goods - feed and live animals).

However, it makes sense to create a real pet store website that will perform several functions at once:

• informative (publication of feature articles, product information, etc.);
• advertising (placement of advertisements, information about promotions, etc.);
• trading (over time, through the site you can sell certain groups of goods with delivery to other cities, which is especially important for pet stores that sell unique products - for example, exclusive toys or pet care items, organic shampoos, natural medicines, etc.).

In general, opening a pet store can be a great start for a successful and stable business. The main thing is to competently organize its work according to a pre-compiled business plan, pay due attention to its placement, design and constant advertising, both on the streets of the city and on the Internet.

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