Start a Pet Show Business

Business Overview:

If you have excellent organization skills, enjoy working with people and their pets and are looking for a fun business, learn how to start a pet show business. Nearly everyone is familiar with the Westminster Dog Show but not every dog show has to be so huge and not every pet show has to only include dogs. A pet show business is a great way for pet owners to show off their furry friends and earn prize money for being best in show. Similar to your standard beauty pageant, as the organizer of a pet show, you would be paid an entry fee by each contestant (or their owner). A portion of that money would be paid to the winner(s) of the contest. You can also make money by getting event sponsors and letting vendors set up at the show. Makers of dog biscuits and cat toys will jump at the chance to show and sell their wares to a captive audience. A background in event planning will help you get this business idea off the ground but it’s not required. You can hire a staff to help you select and set up the venue, coordinate the contestants and hand out awards at the end. When you think about how to market your pet show business, consider posting fliers at local pet shops and veterinarians’ offices. Set up a website where potential contestants (customers) can get more information including the date, time and place of your next show as well as a show calendar and list of entry fees. Contact local news media to cover your events. Have them plug your website and you’ll see that this free advertising will go a long way in getting contestants for your next show. You’ll find that this part-time business is highly rewarding and and you’ll see repeat customers enter their pets again and again hoping to get that elusive best in show ribbon.

A Day in the Life of a Pet Show Business Owner:

On the day of a show, you will arrive at the venue and you and your staff will set up and decorate. You will work with vendors to get them set up and ready to sell to the contestants. You or your staff will collect entry fees and keep track of contestants, telling their owners where to be and when. You will organize the show and distribute awards at the end. Then you and your staff will tear down and clean up. On days you don’t have a show scheduled, you will spend time marketing your next show and updating your website.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be pet owners looking to enter their pet in your show.

What You Need to Start:

• Excellent organization and event planning skills
• Marketing materials
• Staff
• Vendors
• Sponsors
• Prizes
• Website
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• This is a fun business.
• The start-up investment is low.
• You can easily run this business part-time.
• You get to work with adorable pets and interesting owners.
• Many of your customers will be repeat entries.

The Bad:

• Some pets and their owners can be difficult to work with.
• It can be stressful getting an event set up.

Resources:

• American Pet Association
• Event Planners Association
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Meeting and Convention Planners
• Wikipedia on Animal Shows

About The Author

---

Templateify

Praesent nec tortor quam. Quisque ac malesuada augue. Sed dignissim gravida odio ut bibendum. Cras fermentum euismod turpis. Nunc nec diam ante, et faucibus ipsum. Etiam imperdiet mattis elit et molestie. Nulla feugiat mollis leo vel egestas. Pellentesque convallis

- Twitter - Facebook - Google+