want to buy/start a pet shop - where do i begin?

kroberts13

most of the conversation so far has been about business start up, can anyone offer any information about buying a business thats already running?

the benefits from that i can see if that there would already be a client base, the business is already running, the stock is already there. what i would then need to focus on is molding the business into what i wanted.

scooby088

OP have you also thought about grooming services too, Also the area where you will set up is of paramount importance, all I could offer in way of advice is to do extensive research, my sister had a pet shop offering only supplies and grooming and she went out of business within 12 months just because of the area she decided to set up shop.

cazziebo

I advise small businesses, and advise on acquisition. I fervently lobby for more support for independent businesses who are being strangled by the big chains.

Most companies coming on to the market right now are struggling. If they are not in imminent trouble, or even better have a good outlook, owners are holding on to them until the economy improves.

If you asked me for advice i'd say in its present form it was a non starter - sorry. There are people who will conscientiously support independent stores, but there's not a lot of them. Just walk up any high street and see the empty or charity shops. Pet supply is available more cheaply and more readily elsewhere. Buying on a small scale just won't allow you to compete with the big boys.

What is a growth area just now is in lifestyle support - so dog walking, pet sitting, pet daycare, walk in diy grooming centres. Many do pet supply as a sideline. Premium stuff, premium priced. I take my dog to a dog wash (saves flooding my house!) and usually make some purchases. For example I bought a dog coat last time, could have probably got it on line for less but seeing it on the hanger in reception it was a not very MSE impulse buy.

I think your idea is worth exploring and I'd suggest broadening your thoughts. One of the most successful entrepreneurs I know says he has three rules of business:
1. only do it if you can do it better than everyone else
2. Only do what you are truly passionate about
3. Only do what makes economic sense

Best of luck!

kroberts13

I don't think I'm going to be able to offer dog grooming as well, I think a shop and grooming would require at least two of us, and there's only me.

I would like to cater mo for specialist animals, exotics and reptiles. I'd like to offer small animal and reptile boarding, and I'd like to offer animal experiences/education, so taking a selection of unusual exotic pets to schools, kids parties etc.

As for the 3 rules comment,

I think I can do it better than most (I've seen enough pet shops)
It has always been a desire and passion to work with animals
As for economy, that's something I need to learn.

kroberts13

I have jut thought, I have had offer of a business partner from someone who is looking to start their own kennels, to open a shop on their land rent free, he's looking to start up about the same time as me.

There's nothing else I want to do with my life.

heretolearn_2

Ok, it's great to have a passion, but you need a business head as well. If it turns out not to be profitable from your business plan, you need to be prepared to walk away from it. We see too many new business owners who desperately want to do something, and manipulate their business plan to make it appear to work on paper, rather than looking at it dispassionately. The majority of 'hobby' businesses (started because the owner loves doing X, rather than a business person deciding X is a profitable business to go into) fail, in my experience. Not everyone can earn a living doing what they love.
Just be realistic with yourself.

Now, if your genuine business plan proves it will be profitable:

1) Location. Consider the offer of free premises carefully. Where is it? Is it a good location anyway taking the free offer out of the analysis? No point being somewhere free if you won't get the customers, better to pay for a good site.
2) Friends working for you. Don't advise this at ALL. Don't mix business and pleasure. There's no advantages to it for you as a business, and lots of disadvantages. How will you feel if you have to put a friend through a disciplinary? Sack them? Make them redundant? Will they be able to respect you as an employer? Do you want employees who know all your personal business? Do you want friends who know all your business business? Supposing you are successful and expand, how will new 'non-friend' employees fit in?
3) Niche would seem to be the way to go. You cannot compete with the supermarkets and retail sheds on everyday pet stuff. There is pet shop near me that specialises in fish, birds, and reptiles - where you really have to go to an independent - that has been running for nearly 30 years, so it must work for them. Other small general pet shops come and go with depressing regularity.
4) Is it really what you want to do with your life? You say you want to spend all day with animals. This isn't what you'll be doing. You'll be dealing with customers, suppliers, delivery drivers, shop maintenance, cashing up, people making complaints, the bank, doing the books, dealing with accountants, HMRC, local council registrations, phone company, water company, blah blah blah. Very little of your time will be with the animals, to be honest. Managing a business is pretty much a full time job in itself, without the actual day to day 'service' of the business, if you see what I mean. I've got to tell you, most people I know professionally (I work with lots of small businesses) who turn something they love into their work, end up hating the thing they used to love. Not saying you'll end up hating animals, lol, but it's totally different to enjoying something as a hobby, and when you are laying awake at night sick with worry over the mortgage, the bills, staff salaries, putting in 12 or 14 hour days every single day, and doing little but paperwork and management instead of what you actually used to enjoy. Takes the edge of what used to be a pleasure.
And, how will you feel about the following situations: having to put down some animals (you will, you know), having someone wanting to buy an animal and you don't like them/don't think they'll care for it properly (to make a profit it's unlikely you can be fussy unless they are literally standing in the middle of the store trying to swing a hamster round by its legs), having to make a choice between cheap breeders (making a profit) and more expensive ethical breeders (maybe not making a profit), and so on. And if you work there alone, pretty much never being able to take a single day off as the animals need caring for every day. Even with staff, can you ask them to work Christmas Day while you don't?

Caroline_a

You say you want to spend all day with animals. This isn't what you'll be doing. You'll be dealing with customers, suppliers, delivery drivers, shop maintenance, cashing up, people making complaints, the bank, doing the books, dealing with accountants, HMRC, local council registrations, phone company, water company, blah blah blah. Very little of your time will be with the animals, to be honest.

This. When I worked with youngsters who wanted to work with animals I worked with a whole variety of different placements, grooming parlours, pet shops, boarding kennels and breeding kennels. Probably around 80% of them dropped out within the first month or so because it isn't so much about the animals, it's what heartolearn says. Additionally I would advise you not to go into partnership - these are two totally different types of businesses, like having a hotel with a shop. Yes, they can work well together, but the success of one does not necessarily mean the success of the other - and if the boarding kennels doesnt work, what then?

Any sort of boarding will need to adhere to the law regarding boarding animals - there's a lot of information on this website, and also some other stuff that may help you.

My concern would be that you have no occupational experience in an animal care environment, or of running your own business - it will be too late to change your mind if you sink all your savings into it. Working with animals is NOT like owning a whole load of them, and many people have made this mistake. I wish you luck, but make sure you do all of your research of the area, and have a water-tight business plan before you invest a penny!

kroberts13

A friend wouldn't be employed by me, but she would be offered a room in my shop to do grooming, which would bring custom to my shop and benefit her with cheap overheads. If it went sour, I could offer the space to another groomer and she can leave as she wishes.

The boarding website, that seems to be for cats and dogs? Not bunnies, hedgehogs and lizards

The other friend hasn't a location either, he's currently forces and looking to open a kennels when he leaves the RAF.

I have 2.5 -3 years to learn everything I need to know, that's why I'm here now, I'm not looking to do this any time soon, but I need to ask these questions now, so I can find the information I need.

I don't plan to employ staff initially, not unless the shop was doing really well as that's a whole extra aspect with a LOT of extra legislation I need to know.

As for the question do I really want this, there is nothing else I want or can see myself doing with my life. Getting up to feed the animals in my shop on Christmas Day does not feel a hardship to me, especially if I'm living in the flat above.

What funding is out there for start up businesses? What funding would I apply for for a shop with flat and business?

DCFC79

Could try your local business link for funding etc.

I wish you luck.

Caroline_a

The law is the same for boarding animals whether you are keeping rabbits or dogs overnight. You will find that as soon as you open a new business you'll get a visit from Environmental Health (who are the ones who police that particular Act). I would suggest that you download a copy from the relevant government website and read it bit by bit so that you fully understand. It isn't that complex an Act - I used to teach it to 16 year olds, and we did it from the actual wording of the legislature rather than someone else's paraphrases.

If you have 2-3 years then I would gather as much knowledge as you can about running a small business, take as many courses as you can, VAT, accounting, marketing, etc etc, even down to maybe web design - unless you have a decent website you will find that you lose a lot of business - this tends to be new customers' first point of contact.

Do some research into why people are selling petshops, etc, and how much they will be. If you buy a shop that isn't a petshop now you will need change of use which might not necessarily be granted.

Good luck!