Starting a physical pet store in the UK typically costs between £10,000 and £50,000, covering premises, inventory, and licensing. Key expenses include rent, business rates, shopfitting, and, if selling animals, a local authority licence costing around £335-£616, which is required annually. For a larger, more comprehensive setup, initial costs can exceed £100,000.
It will cost between £10,000 and £50,000 to open a pet shop. The main expenses include rent, business rates, refurbishment, inventory, utilities, insurance, and animal care supplies. You must renew your pet shop license every 12 months, or you may be fined up to £500.
Is pet supplies a good business? Definitely yes. Pet supply businesses have shown an increase in revenue regardless of how the economy is performing. For instance, APPA reports indicate that the pet care market has grown from $216 billion in 2020 to $232billion in 2021 globally despite the pandemic.
Whether you're looking to open a general pet shop or a niche pet shop (such as a shop focusing on exotic animals such as reptiles or tropical fish) so long as you approach it carefully and thoughtfully, it can absolutely be profitable.
How to Start a Pet Store Business with Low Investment | Pet Shop Business for Beginners
Do pet shops need a license?
To run a business selling pet animals you must first issue you with a licence. This includes all commercial selling of pet animals, including pet shops and businesses selling animals over the internet.
You will need an Animal welfare licence to sell animals as pets. A pet shop is any building where animals are sold as pets, including your own home. You cannot sell animals as pets in public places, for example from a market stall.
How many litters of puppies can you have without a license?
A licence is required for either or both of the following: Breeding three or more litters of puppies in any 12-month period. Breeding dogs and advertising a business of selling dogs.
According to industry analysts, the average annual revenue for a dog boarding business varies widely but typically ranges between $20,000 to $40,000 for smaller home-based operations and up to $500,000 or more for larger facilities.
Common problems in the pet-shop industry include selling sick and injured animals, failing to provide proper veterinary care, keeping animals in unsanitary conditions, and using inhumane methods to dispose of sick or unwanted animals.
The “95 Percent” rule: At least 95% of the product (by weight) must be the named ingredient; for example, the ingredients of “Salmon Cat Food” must include at least 95% salmon (not including water). When including water, the named ingredient still must comprise at least 70% of the product.
Becoming a pet sitter is one of the least expensive ways to start a pet business. No qualifications are needed, although again, animal-related qualifications will reassure and attract customers. There are a number of pet sitting apps available to sign up to, for both customers and sitters.
The "7-7-7 puppy rule" is a socialization guideline suggesting a puppy should experience 7 different people, 7 different surfaces, and 7 different objects (or challenges like car rides/containers) by around 7 weeks old to build confidence, though it's often adapted for later, post-weaning socialization (10-20 weeks). The goal is to provide varied, positive exposures (textures, sounds, faces, environments) to prevent fear and create a well-adjusted adult dog, emphasizing that these experiences should be fun and controlled, using treats and praise.
The 7-second rule for dogs is a simple test for hot pavement: place the back of your hand on the surface; if you can't comfortably hold it there for seven seconds, it's too hot for your dog's paws and can cause burns, so walk on grass or at cooler times of day instead. This prevents painful paw pad injuries, especially on asphalt and concrete that get much hotter than the air temperature.
A breeding licence is required for anyone breeding three or more litters in a 12-month period and/or anyone that breeds dogs and advertises a business of selling dogs.
You need to ensure that domestic use of the kitchen ie by children, pets, or other people, is separate from business use. Also, you will need to make sure other domestic activities (such as laundry) do not compromise food safety. Although this can be awkward, it is essential for good food hygiene.
Licencing. You cannot sell puppies or kittens if you have not bred them yourself. You do not need a licence to sell a small number of offspring of pets that you've bred, for example as a hobby. However, if you do this often or with many animals you may be classed as a business and may need a licence.
The main new UK pet law is the Renters' Rights Act 2025, effective May 1, 2026, which gives private tenants the right to request a pet, meaning landlords can't have blanket bans but must consider requests reasonably and respond within 28 days, with refusal needing good reasons like allergies or unsuitability. Another recent change is the Animal Welfare Act 2025, cracking down on pet smuggling, alongside government commitments to improving farmed animal welfare, including ending cages and farrowing crates.
Almost all of the states have some sort of registration or licensing requirements that you must meet before your product can be offered for sale in the United States. Some states may exempt pet foods, but most do not. There is no single agency/group that will give you approval to sell your product in all states.
