A homemade dog treat business can be profitable and rewarding.
For many people, their dogs are much more than four-legged companions. They're best friends and furry children. These people often prefer to pamper their loved pooches with gourmet treats, rather than store-bought ones with preservatives and other chemicals. For the dog-loving entrepreneur who is good in the kitchen, a dog treat business can be a viable and rewarding enterprise.
Instructions
1. Create a business plan. Think of your dog treat business as the place you want to get to, and your business plan as your road map to help you get there. It should include your vision for your company, the types of products you hope to offer, and how the company will be run (e.g., whether you will open up a store or sell dog treats exclusively through the web).
2. Brainstorm to come up with a name for your business. You want a name that is catchy and memorable while also alluding to the fact that you sell dog treats.
3. Get cooking. Look up dog treat recipes online or experiment on your own with flavors that typically appeal to dogs, such as peanut butter and cheese. Enlist your own dog, if you have one, or those of friends, to try out your creations. When you come up with a hit recipe, make sure to write it down and store it somewhere safe.
4. Repeat this process until you come up with a list of recipes you're happy with. You may want to start with just a few recipes. You can always add new products once your dog treat business is up and running.
5. Find suppliers. Shop around for a supplier of ingredients in bulk quantities and a supplier for containers for your dog treats and labels for your containers.
6. Research prices of dog treats similar to those you hope to offer. If you don't price your dog treats competitively, you may not attract as many customers as you'd like.
7. Get the appropriate licenses and certifications. You will probably need a license from your city or county to operate your dog treat business. You will also need a federal tax identification number, which you can get online through the Internal Revenue Service's website.
8. Find out what, if any, regulations pertain to you. Check with your individual county to find out if they have specific regulations for dog food businesses that you must comply with. States also often regulate the production and marketing of food meant for animal consumption, so check with the appropriate authorities in your state. The Association of American Feed Control Officials has certain labeling requirements for products sold as dog food.
9. Find a space to sell your dog treat goodies. If you plan on selling them exclusively online, find someone to design your website or do it yourself. Many web hosting companies offer do-it-yourself web design programs that even someone with minimal computer experience can use. If you plan to set up a storefront, look for a space that meets your needs in regards to space, location and set-up. For instance, an abandoned bakery may be pretty simple to convert into a dog treat store, because it's already set up for baking goodies.
10. Launch a marketing campaign. Market your dog treats in dog magazines, local pet stores and veterinary clinics, and offer discounts to get dog owners to buy your dog treats. You may also want to visit pet fairs and dog parks and hand out freebies and coupons.
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