21 Best Business Ideas For Vet Techs [2024]

January 11th, 2024

Are you a vet tech looking for ways to supplement your income and explore business opportunities?

With your expertise, you can turn your skills into a profitable side hustle.

From pet grooming services to pet sitting and even starting your online store, there are plenty of opportunities to explore.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the best business ideas for vet techs looking to diversify their income streams.

1. Become Dog Trainer

A dog trainer is a professional who helps teach and train dogs to exhibit desired behaviors and respond to commands.

Dog trainers use various methods, including positive reinforcement, obedience training, and behavior modification techniques to work with dogs and their owners.

They may address issues such as obedience, aggression, leash pulling, and socialization. Some dog trainers specialize in specific training areas, such as service dog training, agility training, or behavior rehabilitation.

Training sessions can take place in private sessions, group classes, or even through online platforms.

How much you can make: $5,000/month

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

How I Started A $5K/Month Dog Training Business

Fraternityk9 dog training is an example of how Donald's passion for dog training turned into a $5k/month business, by utilizing platforms like Facebook and Instagram, and learning about sales and business to scale the process.

About
Donald started Fraternity K9 over 4 years ago
Revenue
Donald grew the business to $5K/month
Read by 7,402 founders

2. Start a pet medication business

The pet medication industry deals with the selling and distribution of pharmaceuticals and healthcare products that are specifically created for animals, to address various health concerns and enhance their overall well-being.

With the growing trend of considering pets as integral family members, the demand for veterinary medications has seen a significant rise.

The provision of essential medications and supplements for pets not only fulfills a growing market need but also contributes to the overall health and happiness of countless pets.

How much you can make: $200,000/month

How My Love For Animals Led Me To Start A $200K/Month Veterinary Hospital

Discover how Dr. Ellie Scott grew Stringtown Animal Hospital from a staff of four to a team of 23, with five veterinarians, and now has $200K in monthly revenue, by focusing on individual pet risks and the needs of the pet family.

Revenue
Stringtown grew the business to $200K/month
Read by 4,179 founders

3. Start an animal diagnostic services

An animal diagnostic business provides specialized testing and examination services to help pet owners identify and understand their animal’s health issues.

This business involves offering a range of diagnostic services such as blood tests, imaging, and pathology to detect illnesses, monitor health, and guide proper treatment for pets and other animals.

By providing accurate and timely diagnostic information, this business plays a crucial role in ensuring the well-being of animals.

The number of pet owners is increasing and more people are realizing the importance of preventive healthcare for their pets. As a result, the demand for animal diagnostic services is on the rise, making it a profitable business opportunity with the potential for sustained career growth.

How much you can make: $580,000/month

How We Started A Mobile Veterinary Service Serving Our Community

A mobile veterinarian built her business HousePaws on a community-based marketing approach, which helped her take the team from just herself to over 100 employees and more than 7 million dollars in revenue in less than 10 years.

About
Lisa started housepaws about 14 years ago
Revenue
Lisa grew the business to $580K/month
Read by 5,418 founders

4. Mobile pet grooming business

A mobile pet grooming business offers the convenience of professional grooming services right at the doorstep of pet owners.

With this service, your day-to-day activities involve traveling to clients' locations with a fully equipped mobile grooming van, providing personalized grooming services for their beloved pets.

How much you can make: $250,000/month

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

How These Two Friends Started A $250K/Month Professional Pet Care Business

Woofie's founders share how they launched a pet care business from a $10 dog walk into a company that brought in over $3M in revenue in 2019, offering services such as mobile pet grooming, pet sitting and dog walking, and have expanded their business into franchises.

About
Amy started Woofie's over 19 years ago
Revenue
Amy grew the business to $250K/month
Costs
It cost Amy $150000 to start the business
Read by 7,362 founders

5. Start a pet care business

Animal care facilities offer day and night care services. Overnight care lets customers leave their pets at the pet care center to be safe from accidents and predators. Starting an overnight pet care business can be rewarding, with pet ownership on the rise. You can start a day and night care pet service to maximize profits.

How much you can make: $15,000 — $250,000/month

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

How These Two Friends Started A $250K/Month Professional Pet Care Business

Woofie's founders share how they launched a pet care business from a $10 dog walk into a company that brought in over $3M in revenue in 2019, offering services such as mobile pet grooming, pet sitting and dog walking, and have expanded their business into franchises.

About
Amy started Woofie's over 19 years ago
Revenue
Amy grew the business to $250K/month
Costs
It cost Amy $150000 to start the business
Read by 7,362 founders

6. Start a pet blog

A pet blog business is all about creating and managing a website that shares information, tips, and stories about pets. This can include articles on pet care, training, product reviews, and heartwarming pet stories.

With the increasing number of pet owners seeking reliable information and a sense of community, starting a pet blog business is a great opportunity to connect with a passionate audience and potentially earn income through advertising, sponsored content, and affiliate marketing.

The love and enthusiasm people have for their pets make this niche both rewarding and financially promising.

How much you can make: $400 — $4,000/month

How long does it take to build: 272 days (?)

How I Started A Blog To Promote Pet Adoptions In India

Dog with Blog, a content-driven pet adoption network in India led by founder Abhishek Joshi, has successfully driven 900+ dog adoptions using social media and content marketing, and has an active community of 116k fans across its social handles.

About
Abhishek started Dog With Blog about 14 years ago
Revenue
Abhishek grew the business to $400/month
Costs
It cost Abhishek $2000 to start the business
Read by 7,828 founders

7. Start a mobile veterinary service

A mobile veterinary service is just what it sounds like, your pet receives veterinary care in a car. A mobile unit is much cheaper than building a clinic.

As the number of pet owners is growing, there is also an increase in the number of pets that require check-ups and emergency services. If you are looking for a relatively low investment way to start a business, then starting a mobile veterinary service might be the right business for you.

How much you can make: $580,000 — $649,999,999/month

How We Started A Mobile Veterinary Service Serving Our Community

A mobile veterinarian built her business HousePaws on a community-based marketing approach, which helped her take the team from just herself to over 100 employees and more than 7 million dollars in revenue in less than 10 years.

About
Lisa started housepaws about 14 years ago
Revenue
Lisa grew the business to $580K/month
Read by 5,418 founders

8. Start a pet waste removal business

A pet waste removal business is a specialized service that caters to the clean and efficient removal of dog waste from both residential and commercial properties.

This service primarily involves regular visits to clients’ homes or premises to scoop and dispose of pet waste in a hygienic and safe manner.

Pet owners rely on this service to maintain a clean and odor-free environment, which promotes a healthier and more enjoyable living space for both pets and their owners. This business opportunity has gained popularity due to the increasing demand for convenient and time-saving solutions, as pet owners seek reliable services to manage their busy schedules while ensuring a clean outdoor space for their pets.

Providing pet waste removal services can be a profitable business venture, especially in urban areas with a higher concentration of pet owners who value cleanliness and convenience.

By offering efficient and reliable services, this business can effectively help pet owners to maintain a clean and healthy environment while reducing the risk of pet-related health hazards.

How much you can make: $4,000/month

How to Start a Pet Waste Removal Business: $50 an Hour Part-Time

Kroopin's Poopin Scoopin is a dog waste removal company earning $1000 per week, allowing founder Erica Krupin to quit her day job, with a focus on ensuring customers have a great experience.

About
Erica started Kroopin's Poopin Scoopin over 5 years ago
Revenue
Erica grew the business to $4K/month
Read by 611 founders

9. Start a pet accessories business

With the increasing number of pet owners globally, the pet accessories market is booming. Pet accessories include items that promote the health and wellness of pets and improve pet handling. Examples of pet accessories include pet treats, toys, collars and tags, leashes, pet beds, food and water bowls, poo bags, clothing, costumes, etc.

To start a pet accessories business, market research and focus on the highly demanded pet products.

How much you can make: $4,000 — $300,000/month

How long does it take to build: 268 days (?)

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.

About
Jackson started Tuft & Paw over 7 years ago
Revenue
Jackson grew the business to $300K/month
Costs
It cost Jackson $1000 to start the business
Read by 5,702 founders

10. Start a pet spa

A pet spa is a specialized service that provides grooming and pampering treatments to pets, aimed at improving their well-being and appearance.

These treatments typically include baths, haircuts, nail trims, and even therapeutic massages.

With the growing trend of treating pets as family members, pet spas present a lucrative business opportunity by catering to the increasing demand for high-quality and personalized pet care services.

As more people prioritize the health and happiness of their pets, a well-run pet spa can tap into this thriving market and offer a rewarding venture for animal enthusiasts.

How much you can make: $20,000/month

How I Started A $20K/Month Pet Spa That Provides A More Comfortable Grooming Experience

This case study details how the founder of Pawsitivity Pet Spa started a $20k/month appointment-only holistic grooming salon in Asheville, NC, which prioritizes the comfort and happiness of canine clientele, and has grown by word of mouth referrals and a strong focus on the quality of work provided.

About
Olivia started Pawsitivity Pet Spa over 9 years ago
Revenue
Olivia grew the business to $20K/month
Costs
It cost Olivia $25000 to start the business
Read by 6,687 founders

11. Start a veterinary clinic

Another thriving and profitable business is to open a veterinary clinic. This one of the most suitable business ideas for veterinarians to start.

If interested, make sure that you locate one near an area with lots of dog owners and animal farms. These people are your target market, and it's wise to take your business there. You’ll also need to learn how to market yourself so that you can reach out to those people who might need your services.

The average veterinarian salary in the United States is $100,000 annually or $51.28 per hour. Beginning salaries start at $70,783 annually, while most experienced workers earn up to $144,023 annually.

How much you can make: $200,000/month

How My Love For Animals Led Me To Start A $200K/Month Veterinary Hospital

Discover how Dr. Ellie Scott grew Stringtown Animal Hospital from a staff of four to a team of 23, with five veterinarians, and now has $200K in monthly revenue, by focusing on individual pet risks and the needs of the pet family.

Revenue
Stringtown grew the business to $200K/month
Read by 4,179 founders

12. Start an animal bone cleaning service

The pristine-looking skeletons you see in museums or bright white skulls hanging from walls are real animal bones and skulls that were cleaned and preserved.

Cleaning animal bones may sound boring! But do you know that animal skulls and bones is a profitable business? Animal bones and skulls are not only a good display for residential and commercial places, but they are also a good teaching tool. Your clients can be hunters, anatomy professionals, conservationists, and pet lovers.

Therefore, starting a bone cleaning and bleaching business can be a great business.

How much you can make: $2,000/month

How I Started A Successful Side Business Cleaning Animal Skulls

Dermestidarium is a successful side business that uses flesh-eating beetles to clean animal bones for display, started by Carla Brauer who had no hopes of it turning into a business, but grew it into a busy side-hustle and more recently a primary work with client base growing each year.

About
Carla started Dermestidarium over 10 years ago
Revenue
Carla grew the business to $2K/month
Read by 8,370 founders

13. Start an aquarium maintenance service business

Recent statistics show that the aquarium industry is worth more than $13 Billion. In addition, more than 14.7 million American households own a pet fish aquarium. Therefore, aquarium maintenance professionals have a bright future!

An aquarium maintenance business involves regular water changes, servicing the filter, and testing the aquarium water. Initiating an aquarium maintenance business is one of the low costs but most profitable retail opportunities.

How much you can make: $5,800/month

How much does it cost to start: $1 (?)

How long does it take to build: 365 days (?)

How I Bought My Friends Business For $2500 And Grew It To $100K/Year

Aquarium maintenance business owner, Larry McGee, generates $100,000 annually servicing 60+ aquariums in central Arkansas-area businesses, while also offering offline and online marketing courses; his repeat customer base is key to his 25-year success.

About
Larry started Aquatic Designs, Inc. almost 29 years ago
Revenue
Larry grew the business to $5.8K/month
Costs
It cost Larry $1 to start the business
Read by 3,998 founders

14. Become a veterinary assistant

A veterinary assistant plays a pivotal role in a veterinary team, providing essential support to veterinarians in the care of animals.

Their duties include assisting with examinations, handling and restraining animals, maintaining cleanliness in the clinic, and managing administrative tasks.

This profession is ideal for individuals who possess a deep love for animals and aspire to work closely with pets while contributing to their health and well-being.

With the growing demand for veterinary services, it has become a lucrative business opportunity for those who are passionate about animal care.

As people increasingly prioritize the health and happiness of their furry companions, the need for skilled veterinary assistants is expected to rise.

How much you can make: $200,000/month

How My Love For Animals Led Me To Start A $200K/Month Veterinary Hospital

Discover how Dr. Ellie Scott grew Stringtown Animal Hospital from a staff of four to a team of 23, with five veterinarians, and now has $200K in monthly revenue, by focusing on individual pet risks and the needs of the pet family.

Revenue
Stringtown grew the business to $200K/month
Read by 4,179 founders

15. Start a vet service to fish farms business

A vet service for fish farms provides essential healthcare and medical support to ensure the well-being and productivity of fish in aquaculture operations.

This business involves expert veterinarians who specialize in fish health, offering services like disease prevention, routine check-ups, and emergency care.

By partnering with fish farmers, the vet service helps maintain a healthy and thriving fish population, ultimately boosting farm yields and profitability.

With the growing demand for seafood worldwide, investing in a vet service for fish farms is a lucrative opportunity as it addresses the crucial need for sustainable aquaculture practices to meet the increasing global demand for fish products.

16. Start an animal transportation business

Animal transportation is the commercial ferrying of wild and domestic animals. The animal transporters help rescuers, game parks, and pet lovers by offering safe and convenient animal transfers.

Thus, if you own a truck, you can customize it to offer animal transportation services. The truck should be customized as per the size of animals you will be transferring in them and there should be a facility to lift animals into the vehicle and out of it.

Starting an animal transportation business is a profitable prospect. You require some licensing, and you ought to carve a niche and market your services to potential customers.

17. Start an Animal Control Services

An Animal Control Services business is an establishment that specializes in managing and handling animals in urban and suburban areas for the welfare and safety of both the public and the animals.

The services provided by such a business include responding to emergency calls related to stray or aggressive animals, capturing and relocating wildlife, and providing assistance in situations involving pets in distress.

The demand for professional and humane animal control services has risen significantly in recent years, as communities now place a heightened emphasis on public safety and animal welfare. Consequently, becoming an Animal Control Services provider is a lucrative business opportunity that offers tremendous potential for growth and expansion.

As an Animal Control Services provider, you'll be able to contribute to public safety, promote responsible pet ownership, and address concerns related to wildlife interactions. This makes it a valuable and rewarding business opportunity that not only generates income but also helps to create a safer and more humane society for both animals and humans.

18. Start a pet cremation business

Pet cremation services have become increasingly popular in recent years.

These services offer pet owners a dignified and professional way to handle the remains of their deceased pets.

The process involves the use of specialized equipment to carefully incinerate the pet’s remains, resulting in ashes that are then returned to the owner in an urn or another chosen container.

This type of service provides comfort to grieving owners, who can be assured that their pets' remains are being handled in a respectful and compassionate manner.

Additionally, a pet cremation business presents a lucrative opportunity for entrepreneurs in the pet care industry, as more and more pet owners seek personalized and meaningful ways to say goodbye to their beloved companions.

19. Start a cows breeding and rearing business

The cow breeding and rearing industry involves the intentional breeding, nurturing, and handling of cows for various purposes like milk production, meat, and other by-products.

This business opportunity offers the chance to raise healthy and productive cattle through controlled breeding methods and proper care.

This profitable industry is driven by the constant demand for dairy products and meat, providing a steady income stream for those interested in animal husbandry and agriculture.

To ensure the well-being of the cows and maximize the business’s profitability, a combination of knowledge in animal science, nutrition, and effective farm management is essential for success in this venture.

20. Start a dog breeding business

The dog breeding business is a great business to start if you have a passion and love for dogs. It can be a profitable business, but it takes time to build.

Starting to breed dogs is a lucrative business. The dogs are sold by breeders to buyers at an exorbitant price, who then sell them for a profit.

If you want to start a dog breeding business, then you need to first find out what kind of dogs are popular at the moment. You'll have to find and breed dogs that are compatible with each other and their new owners before they're ready for adoption!

As of October 27, 2022, the average Dog Breeder salary in the United States is $55,175, but the salary range typically falls between $49,079 and $61,740. Salary ranges can vary substantially based on a variety of critical factors, including education, certifications, extra competencies, the length of time you've been in your profession.

21. Become a Dog Manicurist

A dog manicurist is someone who specializes in filing down dogs' claws and calming them down when they get nervous during grooming. They also make sure the nails are shaped properly so that the dogs feel comfortable while being groomed.

For pet owners who don’t want to go through the hassle of trimming their dogs’ or cats’ nails, they want to hire a pet manicurist. Some may even pay you to paint their dog's nails too.

meet the author
Samantha Walls

I'm Sam Walls, COO of Starter Story - a platform and community for entrepreneurs and future founders to learn what it takes to build a great business. I joined the Starter Story team approximately 3 years ago, with the goal of providing our readers with the best, most valuable, and inspirational content on the internet.