pet business

Pets are big businesses. In fact, according to the American Pet Products Association , about 62% of U.S. households own a pet. Pet owners spent an estimated $47.7 billion in 2010.

If you love pets, here are 10 pet businesses that you can run from home:

1. Dog Clothing and Accessories

The dog clothing business is an extremely viable market waiting to be explored and expanded. Bestsellers include sweaters and rain jackets, but pet owners also buy their pampered pets t-shirts, costumes, googles, even booties.

2. Dog Obedience Training

Dog obedience training helps put an end to a dog’s aggression, and behaviors such as biting, chewing, or digging. It helps the dog owners and the dogs develop a way to communicate and offer an easy way to establish the social hierarchy. Dog obedience training has become important for the peace of mind and more harmonious relationship between the dog and its owners.

3. Dog Walking Service

Dogs need regular exercise to ensure good physical and mental health, in addition to ensuring that they maintain and develop a housebreaking routine. Dog walkers take the dogs for walks at least once a day anywhere from one to two hours.

4. Doggie Day Care

An alternative to traditional kennel, dog daycares offers pet care during the day while owners are at work or on vacation. The doggy day care offers clean, cageless facilities often featuring open playgroups, in a fun, safe and colorful environment.

5. Pet Travel Accessories

More people are traveling with their pets, both on the road and on air. Pet travel products help pet owners prepare for travel with their pets, and keep pets comfortable during travel with products. Examples of pet travel products include airline-compliant pet carriers, car seat covers, or car seat restraints, rear seat hammocks for pets, among others.

6. Pet Spa

Take pet grooming and pampering to the next level with pet spas! Pet spas offer activities, good food and a pampered environment. Some focuses on bathing and grooming, while other spas even offer training and swimming of the pets.

7. Pet Photography

Pet photography business provides fun, candid, joyful photos of pets such as dogs, cats, horses, birds, and other pets. Often offering natural style portraits that capture the love between your family and pets, pet photography service can be done from a home-based studio, on location such as the pet owners’ home, or even from a pet shop.

8. Pooper Scooper Service

Dog pooper scooper services clean up after pets and make sure the lawns are safe and clean places for the families to enjoy. There are also litter box services for feline friends to keep the cat’s litter box clean and fresh and eliminates the hassle of buying, transporting and storing large and heavy bags of kitty litter.

9. Pet Toys

Pet toys and accessories is a big market, with thousands of toys available for dogs, cats, ferrets, parrots and other pets. Pet owners buy squeak toys, chew toys, balls, catnip, ropes and other types of toys for the enjoyment and exercise of their pets.

10. Gourmet Pet Food

The gourmet pet food is the fastest growing segment in the $18 billion pet food business. Pet owners give their pets special treats to celebrate special occasions, provide healthier and organic foods, or simply to spoil their pets.

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Hotel queen Leona Helmsley, who recently passed away, was said to have left her beloved Maltese dog a mind boggling $12 million dollars (!!!). While not many people would have the resources to bequeath their dogs with such a huge amount of money, industry data shows that spending on pets from food to clothing to grooming have increased significantly in the last decade.

According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association , Americans are spending $40.8 billion a year for their furry friends, a huge part of which goes to food. Hence, it is not a surprise that one pet-oriented business enjoying increased demand is the dog bakery.

Pet owners today want to reward their pets in human terms, and what better way to do it than through human-quality food and treats. They are willing to spend top dollar for food products for their pets.

When starting a dog bakery business, it is important to understand that the demand for this business is not spurred by the need to provide food for beloved pooches. Instead, it is all about becoming a better “pet parent.” Your business concept and marketing strategy should focus on the fact that pet food is marketed with the pet owner (not the pet) in mind.

Here are some tips to starting your dog bakery business:

Before starting this business, research about your target market and the demographics. Get information on the dog population of the area, as well as the number of dog-owners in the community who will be your main clientele. This business will thrive more in urban areas, and in the more affluent neighborhoods.
Find out if there’s a dominance of some particular dog breeds in your community. If there is a specific, common breed, then you may be able to focus on that as your niche specialty.
Determine competition in your community, and find out their strengths and weaknesses. If you can, investigate what people like — and don’t like — about these existing dog bakeries.
Find a niche — e.g. all natural dog food products — and position yourself as a leading provider of these items.
Create a chic, dog friendly store where customers can browse your products with their canine companions.

Of course, to succeed in this business, you must have a love for dogs as well as talent and skills in cooking and baking.

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