How to Start a Pet Clothing Store

As the owner of a pet clothing business, you’ll either resell or design and fabricate pet attire. You might own a brick and mortar store, run your business online, or operate in a hybrid model by serving customers in both modes.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.

Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

DIY: How to Start an LLC

Start a pet clothing store by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Pet Clothing Store
  2. Form your Pet Clothing Store into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Pet Clothing Store for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Pet Clothing Store
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Pet Clothing Store
  7. Get Pet Clothing Store Insurance
  8. Define your Pet Clothing Store Brand
  9. Create your Pet Clothing Store Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your pet clothing store. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Pet Clothing Store Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a pet clothing store?

Your costs will vary depending on whether you operate online or at a brick and mortar location. Here are some of the startup costs you’ll confront under either scenario.

Rent and utilities — $15,000 a year or more if you open a retail location. This estimate is based on a 700-square-foot location, which is probably the minimal size for your store. Depending on your city or region, this cost could escalate. If you operate a web store only, you can conduct business from your home and have no rental costs. Also explore the possibility of operating a kiosk in an existing pet-oriented retail store.

Inventory — $1,500 on up. Your inventory can be kept at a minimum if you operate online or you sew your own clothing for custom orders. If you have a store your inventory costs might approach $5,000 to $10,000.

Staffing — Initially, you’ll only need what you need to live on. As you add employees, that cost might escalate to $12,000 a year for a single part-time worker, and higher.

Logo development, signage and marketing materials — Up to $5,000 or more. Regardless of how you operate your business, you should have a professional image. You’ll also want to spend on a grand opening promotion whether you’re operating on- or offline.

Online presence — $1,000 or less for website design and implementation. You must have a professional web presence whether you’ll have an ecommerce site or only use your digital presence to push business to your brick and mortar store. Your costs could escalate if you provide a state-of-the-art ecommerce portal.

Liability insurance and professional services — $750 or more, est. You should see a lawyer and accountant at least once in order to get your business off the ground the right way. An insurance agent will be able to estimate your needs in that area.

What are the ongoing expenses for a pet clothing store?

Once you’ve established your presence, your ongoing expenses will be your store if you have a physical presence, and your inventory and labor. If you operate online, you can keep inventory costs lower than if you must create and maintain a store display. You’ll also be likelier to be able to run the business without additional staffing if you operate online only.

Who is the target market?

Your customers will be pet lovers, and especially those with the financial means to spend generously on their dogs and other pets.

How does a pet clothing store make money?

You’ll sell for retail the merchandise you buy from wholesalers such as DogSmartWay.com or through such general online vendors as Amazon and eBay. According to this Forbes article, the markup on human clothing from wholesale to retail is 100 percent. Assume the same markup for pet attire and adjust for competition and customer expectations.

How much can you charge customers?

That depends on your product offering and the competitive landscape in your marketing area.

How much profit can a pet clothing store make?

Profit margins of 8 percent are common in specialty clothing retail for humans after all expenses are paid. The same or higher margins might be possible in the pet clothing business.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Consider offering additional related services, such as pet grooming. Make a rental arrangement in your physical store to bring in a dog groomer once a week or more often. You can also sell such associated products as pet toys, and mugs, books, t-shirts and other items for pet-owners.

You’ll find additional business expansion ideas in this article

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your pet clothing store is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your pet clothing store were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a pet clothing business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

Certificate of Occupancy

A pet clothing business is generally run out of a storefront. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO).  A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

  • If you plan to lease a location:
    • It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
    • Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a pet clothing business.
    • After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
  • If you plan to purchase or build a location:
    • You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
    • Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your pet clothing business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

Find out what types of insurance your Pet Clothing Store needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Pet Clothing Store.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a pet clothing store

Start by finding out where your customers hang out. Where do they take their pets? What other websites do they visit and what materials do they read. Start your business with customer surveys to find out how you’re likeliest to come in contact with ideal customers. Also consider booth rental at dog shows, pet fairs or expos or related events.

How to keep customers coming back

Produce fliers and distribute them (with permission, when necessary) at doggie daycares, boarding kennels, dog parks, veterinarians, and other pet and owner hangouts. Consider partnering with associated businesses such as pet stores and retailers who don’t offer apparel.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

Hopefully, you love dogs and other animals. You should also have good instincts for finding vendors, pricing items, and promoting and marketing your business. If you’ll be making rather than buying and reselling items, you must also have a talent for pet fashion, clothing design, and sewing.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a pet clothing store?

Your typical workday could consist of a range of activities including:

  • Finding and ordering inventory from online and/or offline vendor resources
  • Maintaining and keeping up the appearances of your digital or brick and mortar store
  • Greeting customers and meeting their needs
  • Scheduling and overseeing staff, if any
  • Paying bills and conducting business

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful pet clothing store?

You must be able to think critically and from a retail perspective. You must be able to get a deep understanding of your market. If you open a brick and mortar business, it must be in an area where you’ll find an upscale customer base. Write a business plan first so you can see where your opportunities are and how you’ll reach your base.

What is the growth potential for a pet clothing store?

U.S. pet owners spend an estimated $69.36 billion annually on their pets, according to the American Pet Products Association (APPA). This includes expenditures of nearly $1.5 billion on supplies and medicine. The estimate represents an impressive year-over-year growth rate. The 2023-2024 APPA National Pet Owners Survey is an excellent source of additional market profile information for your business plan.

Not sure if a pet clothing store is right for you? Try our free Business Idea Generator and find your perfect idea.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a pet clothing store?

Take advantage of the “cute” factor. Pet owners love their “babies.” Establish a presence that shows that you share their love and affection for animals. Start by brainstorming creative and appealing business names. That will literally be your calling card.

Also consider areas of specialty and becoming a niche retailer. This might mean exclusively clothing large or very small animals or exotic pets, or only providing attire for special occasions, such as for Halloween. This degree of niche specialization will be easier if you operate your business online rather than through a physical store. That’s because it’s easier to service a niche if your market is the world rather than a distinct geographic sliver.

How and when to build a team

You might be able to stay solo if you offer your business online only. If you become a brick and mortar store owner, you’ll probably need help to cover your hours of operation, but only do so as you see revenue growth to cover the added expenses.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading