Pet Store

How Much Does It Cost To Start A Pet Store? (In 2025)

Pat Walls

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Updated: April 14th, 2025

Looking to start a pet store?

But curious about:

how much it costs to start a pet store?
what are the typical pet store startup costs?
or the actual cost of starting pet stores?

Well, we have the data to prove it, supported by real pet stores and how much they actually cost to start.

Let's go over it.

Table of Contents

What is the average cost of starting a pet store?
Real World Examples: How much does it cost to start a pet store?
Starting a pet store - what you should know:
Potential Costs of Starting a Pet Store
More Business Ideas Like This

What is the average cost of starting a pet store?

Based on our data reported by actual pet store founders, the average cost of starting a pet store is between $1,000 and $50,000.

Additionally, our data shows that the the median startup costs for a pet store are around $10K.

Remember, though, not all pet stores are the same - and neither are people's budgets. It's important to distinguish between different levels or types of pet stores

Real World Examples: How much does it cost to start a pet store?

We asked real pet store founders and business owners how much it actually cost to get started?

Here is what they said:

Mike Leon

Founder of Bike Tow Leash ($20K/month)

"We launched LEON Engineering, Inc. by going to the bank and opening a business checking account. We opened with $20K left over from my post 9-11 severance package earned from 17 years designing and marketing airline products."

Mike Leon is the founder of LEON Engineering, Inc., a business that designs, builds, and sells the Bike Tow Leash® for dog owners and trainers. The company started in 2009 and now makes six figures annually.

🔒 Join Starter Story today and unlock this case study

Read by 15,021 founders

Justin Palmer

Founder of iHeartDogs ($1.83M/month)

"Around this time, I reconnected with my friend and now business partner Marshall. Marshall had deep experience in building and scaling media companies. My background was in eCommerce. We came up with the brand for iHeartDogs and decided it would both sell physical products, and become media property that sold advertising to other pet brands...our first monster viral hit, flooding our site with over 4 million pageviews in one day."

Justin Palmer is the founder of iHeartDogs, a lifestyle store and blog for passionate dog parents that has grown into one of the largest online communities for dog lovers.

🔒 Join Starter Story today and unlock this case study

Read by 11,888 founders

Jackson Cunningham

Founder of Tuft & Paw ($1.3M/month)

"In hindsight, we took a big risk - because eventually, we needed to pay a factory over $50,000 to make design molds to produce the product."

Jackson Cunningham is the founder of tuft + paw, a modern brand for cat products that has been doubling in growth every year and is now generating over $300,000 per month in sales.

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Read by 9,584 founders

Arianne

Founder of Bell & Bone ($180K/month)

"Funding the launch was hard, I used all my savings and worked full time initially, which eventually became part-time before I quit. It did mean things moved slower than I wanted and they still do as I have bootstrapped for 3.5 years now."

Arianne is the founder of Bell & Bone, a dog food business that started in 2018, focusing on creating innovative and purposeful products for better canine health.

🔒 Join Starter Story today and unlock this case study

Read by 4,221 founders

James Rosone

Founder of Front Line Publishing Inc ($19K/month)

"When I first started self-publishing, our start-up costs were relatively low. I found a book cover artist on Fiverr to produce a cover for under $100, and we were off to the races."

James Rosone is the founder of Front Line Publishing Inc, a self-publishing business that specializes in military, political, and espionage thrillers.

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Read by 8,004 founders

Enjoyed reading these real world examples?

Our platform is full of case studies of successful pet stores that you can learn from.

Starting a pet store - what you should know:

Opening a pet store involves various nuanced factors that can significantly influence your costs.

Location Choices

Where you decide to set up your pet store will have a substantial impact on your budget. Urban areas often entail higher rent costs ranging from $3,000 to $6,000 per month, compared to more rural or suburban areas where rent could be as low as $1,000 to $2,000 monthly. Make sure you balance the visibility and foot traffic of a prime location with the affordability to ensure long-term sustainability.

Initial Inventory Costs

The initial inventory for a pet store can be costly, depending on the types of pets and related supplies you plan to offer. For example, stocking a range of high-quality pet foods, toys, and grooming products can cost between $20,000 and $40,000 initially. Including livestock—such as fish, birds, and small mammals—in your offerings can add another $5,000 to $10,000 to your initial outlay. Be strategic in your inventory selection to manage costs effectively.

Licensing and Permits

Securing the necessary licenses and permits is another critical expense. Estimates for business licenses, animal seller permits, and health department approvals can range from $500 to $2,000 based on your local regulations. It's crucial to prioritize these legal fees early in your planning stages to avoid future penalties or the risk of business closure.

Employee Costs

Hiring experienced staff is essential, especially if they have specialized knowledge in pet care. Based on the national average, you may expect to pay around $25,000 to $30,000 annually for a full-time employee's salary. Hiring part-time staff or offering competitive benefits instead of higher wages may help address these costs more effectively.

Marketing Budget

Initial marketing efforts are crucial for driving foot traffic and establishing your customer base. Allocating between $3,000 to $5,000 for opening promotions, social media marketing, and local advertisements should be sufficient. Keep a portion of this budget flexible to adapt to different promotional strategies as you analyze their effectiveness.

Ensuring each of these factors is carefully considered can help you manage and possibly reduce the overall costs associated with starting a pet store. Planning and prioritizing efficiently will lead to a more sustainable and profitable business operation.

Potential Costs of Starting a Pet Store

Starting a pet store entails various expenses that include everything from acquiring the necessary permits to buying inventory and marketing your store. Below is a detailed breakdown of these potential costs.

Expense Category	Estimated Cost Range	Description
Lease/Rent	$2,000 - $5,000/mo	Monthly cost for retail location.
Utilities	$200 - $500/mo	Monthly costs for electricity, water, gas, etc.
Permits & Licenses	$400 - $1,000 one-time	Business, animal sales, and environmental health permits.
Renovations & Build-Outs	$10,000 - $50,000 one-time	Remodeling, fixtures, interior setup, etc.
Insurance	$500 - $1,200 annually	Liability, property, and workers' compensation insurance.
Inventory (Initial Stock)	$10,000 - $35,000 one-time	Pet animals, food, accessories, etc.
Point of Sale (POS) System	$1,200 - $5,000 one-time	POS hardware and software setup.
Website & Hosting	$300 - $1,200 annually	Domain registration, website design, and monthly hosting fees.
Marketing & Advertising	$1,000 - $5,000	Initial marketing campaigns, social media advertising, etc.
Employee Salaries	$20,000 - $50,000 annually/employee	Wages for staff (e.g., sales associates, managers).
Training Programs	$500 - $2,000 one-time	Training for staff on animal care, sales procedures, etc.
Furniture & Fixtures	$2,000 - $10,000 one-time	Store displays, shelves, counters, seating, etc.
Cages & Tanks	$1,000 - $5,000 one-time	Enclosures for animals such as aquariums, cages, etc.
Pet Care Supplies	$500 - $2,000 one-time	Bedding, grooming tools, feeding equipment, etc.
Computer & Office Supplies	$1,000 - $3,000 one-time	Computers, office furniture, paper, etc.
Accounting & Legal Fees	$1,000 - $3,000 annually	Professional fees for accountants and lawyers.
Security Systems	$500 - $2,500 one-time + $20 - $50/mo	Installation and monitoring of security cameras, alarms, etc.
Miscellaneous	$1,000 - $3,000	Unexpected or variable costs.

This table provides a comprehensive view of the varied costs involved in opening a pet store, helping you to budget effectively. Consider consulting professionals to fine-tune these estimates based on your specific situation and geographical location.

Part of

Starting A Pet Store: Everything You Need To Know

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