Pet Store

How Profitable Is A Pet Store? (Updated for 2024)

Pat Walls

•

Updated: October 6th, 2024

How Profitable Is A Pet Store? (Updated for 2024)

So you want to start a pet store?

And the first question that came to your mind was, “well, are pet stores actually profitable?”

With a market size of $103B - there’s plenty of business to go around.

Especially considering:

You could start a pet store with as low as $1,000
Based on our data, pet stores generate an average of $6.71M per year

There’s money to be made. Don’t worry.

But, I don't want to spoil it all. Below we’ll cover everything you need to know when it comes to the profitability of a pet store.

Let’s dive in!

Is a pet store profitable?

Yes, a pet store is generally a profitable business. However, you still need to consider several factors since these things always impact the overall outcome.

For instance, since average revenue is $6.71M per year with an estimated gross margin of 40%, you could expect to recover your investment within 7 months or even less.

But of course, it all comes down to how much you earn compared to the potential revenues of your pet store.

To determine whether your business is profitable, you should earn more than your expenses in the beginning months. However, while you're in your first month, it can be challenging to know what to expect.

Therefore, you should maintain a record of your monthly expenses and income to determine whether you're meeting your goals. By doing this step, you can see how your pet store is doing and if any changes or adjustments need to be made to enhance or maintain your efforts.

Is a pet store worth it?

If you’re wondering if a pet store is worth it, the answer is a big YES. With pet stores, you have the potential to earn $6.71M per year (this is based on data reported by real founders).

Further, you could have your initial investment back within months. Simply put, it’s a business worth a shot, especially if you have the resources and make the necessary efforts to achieve or surpass the target.

With a market size of $103B, it will be possible for you to build something that grows and turns into a flourishing business. As such, it’s the type of business you might want to consider starting.

Of course, you must learn and understand every aspect of running a pet store to ensure success. Still, as long as you have the initial investment and can endure a few months before your actual gains, this business could be worth it.

You might want to consider reading more specifics about successful pet stores case studies.

Examples Of Profitable Pet Stores

Here are a few examples of profitable pet stores, and a few more details about them:

1. Bike Tow Leash ($240K/year)

press (Dog Fancy Magazine, Good Morning America, Atlanta Journal & Constitution, etc.) attesting to our product’s safety and its fun. Those benefits continue today from stores and buyers in the U.S. and Canada noting us from the products we sell on Amazon. I have interviewed with 10 separate manufacturers so far with presentations to the remaining 2 major manufacturers with over 2000 sales reps each. Remember any of the direct competitors we have met so far have focused on a single product. With our portfolio of multiple patents, we can offer them a steady stream of new products, from both existing patents and pending applications alone!

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $22K

How I Started A 6-Figures Business Selling A Dog Accessory

Mechanical engineer and avid bike rider Mike Leon turned his hobby of creating a safe bike-to-leash attachment for his service dog into a 6-figure business, shipping from hundreds to thousands of 1-Running-Dog Bike Tow Leashes per year to dog owners, military and law enforcement, and search and rescue teams.

Read this case study

Read by 14,365 founders

2. Tuft & Paw ($15.6M/year)

Jackson Cunningham, the founder of tuft + paw, came up with the idea for his business when he rescued a cat and realized there were no high-quality cat products available. He started by importing beautiful cat furniture and eventually launched a successful Kickstarter campaign for a modern litter box, raising over $150k. Today, tuft + paw is thriving, with monthly sales exceeding $300k and $2M in funding from investors like Alexis Ohanian.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $15.6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K

This Designer Cat Furniture Brand Does Over $300K/Month In Sales

Tuft + Paw, a modern cat brand founded by Jackson Cunningham, started as an importer of exquisite cat furniture and, after raising $150k from Kickstarter, graduated to manufacturing products, seeing sales grow to over $300k per month and now raising $2m from famed investors including Alexis Ohanian.

Read this case study

Read by 8,543 founders

3. Front Line Publishing Inc ($228K/year)

James Rosone, a former military interrogator, turned to writing as a form of PTSD therapy. After realizing a gap in the market for authentic military thrillers, he and his wife co-wrote and self-published their own books. Since their debut in 2015, they have published eighteen books and earned an impressive $47,365 in a single month.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $228K/year

How I Turned PTSD Therapy Into A Six Figure Income

Military veteran turned author builds a six-figure self-publishing business through rapid release and effective marketing strategies, with a current monthly average revenue of $19,000.

Read this case study

Read by 6,184 founders

Learn more about starting a pet store:

Where to start?

-> Pet store plan
-> How to finance a pet store?
-> How much does it cost to start a pet store?
-> Pros and cons of a pet store

Need inspiration?

-> Other pet store success stories
-> Marketing ideas for a pet store
-> Pet store slogans
-> Pet store names
-> Pet store Instagram bios
-> Pet store Instagram captions

Other resources

-> Pet store tips
-> Blog post ideas for a pet store
-> Pet store quotes

How much can you make with a pet store?

With a pet store, you can make an average of $6.71M revenue per year (based on data reported by real businesses).

You can start with an initial investment as low as $1,000. Then, with proper knowledge and sustained effort, you could have an ROI (return of investment) within 7 months.

How much does a pet store make a week?

Based on our data, average weekly revenue for a pet store ranges around $140K. As such, you could see monthly revenues of $559K.

To know if your pet store achieves the weekly profit target, you need to keep track of the total earnings you get per day. Afterward, you'll want to consider subtracting the expenses you have daily.

Learning your weekly profit can also show whether you're hitting your target goal for your pet store.

How much do pet stores owners make?

The income of a pet store owner can vary depending on various factors such as location, size, competition, and the owner's business skills.

But to give you some idea, the weekly revenue of an established pet store is about $140K. But this can be lower or higher depending on so many factors - it's almost impossible to say exactly.

While the potential for earning a good income as a pet store owner exists, success in this field requires a commitment to providing quality products and services and building a strong reputation within the community.

Pet Store Profit Margins

Generally speaking, a pet store can expect profit margin of around 40%. Profit margins refer to the percentage of revenue that remains after deducting all expenses associated with running a business. In the case of a pet store, profit margins can vary depending on various factors, such as the type and quality of products sold, the size of the store, and the level of competition in the area.

However, these figures can vary depending on the pricing strategy, inventory management, and overall efficiency of the business. To maintain healthy profit margins, pet store owners must focus on managing costs, negotiating favorable supplier terms, and providing high-quality products and services to attract and retain customers. By doing so, pet store owners can ensure long-term sustainability and profitability for their business.

Pet store owner salary

The salary of a pet store owner is an unpredictable figure. It's significantly influenced by numerous factors, including the store's location, its size, and the degree of competition. An owner of a well-established pet store, in a prime position, might see an average weekly salary around the ballpark of $55.9K.

But it's worth noting, such numbers aren't always consistent. The earnings can vary wildly, potentially swinging by as much as 80% either way.

Achieving consistent success and maintaining a reliable income stream in this industry requires a deep commitment. It's imperative to offer high-quality products, deliver impeccable customer service, and nurture a trusted bond with the community you serve.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, based on many of our examples, a pet store may be a promising business to start - but the success of your pet store mostly depends on your effort and your approach.

If you focus on these, you'll have a much higher chance of a profitable pet store.

Part of

Starting A Pet Store: Everything You Need To Know

‹

›