How To Start A Petting Zoo - Background Info:
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If you have ever dreamt of starting a new business and you love animals, then a petting zoo business may be just the answer that you've been searching for.
The petting zoo business offers a variety of niches such as having a permanent petting zoo location or having a traveling petting zoo where animals can be taken to schools, senior and convalescent homes and facilities and, of course, birthday parties.
If you love animals and children (and bringing the two together), you may want to look into offering pony rides and a traveling petting zoo as a business; or instead of traveling with your animals, you could have people come to your farm and participate in added attractions like hay rides, crawling through hay mazes, building scarecrows, walking through a pumpkin patch, milking a goat or cow, and other fun activities.
However, starting and running such a business requires a great deal of knowledge, proficiency, and orderliness; and is quite costly to manage.
To run a local or mobile petting zoo correctly will take a lot of effort in providing animal care as well as maintaining your animals' shelter, providing daily social interaction, and maintaining all health standards for the them and their environment.
It might look good on paper to decide that you want fifteen large animals for your petting zoo, but you have to look at the practical aspects of having that many animals to care for on a daily basis.
How To Start A Petting Zoo - Tasks And Skills Needed:
Business Specific Tasks:
If you are planning to do all the business tasks or hiring or subcontracting tasks, here's a list of tasks that need to be attended to when it comes to the business side of running a petting zoo business:
- Bookkeeping
- Advertising/Marketing
- Scheduling of events to attend
- Computer literacy
- Answering machine
- Inventory control (food, supplies)
Industry Specific Tasks:
Same as above if you plan to do everything yourself or get help, here are some of the tasks necessary to operate a petting zoo business:
- Providing animal-specific diets
- Maneuver a trailer pulled behind a truck
- Experience in animal or vetinary care is a plus
- Maintenance of animal corrals and cages
- Ordering of food and animal care supplies
- Emergency animal care, supplies, and equipment
- Veterinary check-ups
- Monitoring of all visitors' interaction with the animals
How To Start A Petting Zoo - Approximate Daily Hours Needed:
 General Hours of Operation: - When your business is open - Animal care in general is a 24/7 job and hours of operation with visits will vary according to open hours set at a permanent location or mobile visits.
Hours Needed to Prepare - Before Opening and After Hours Activities - Plan to spend about two to four hours to feed all the animals, clean their areas, and inspect them for their health status not only before an after visits, but at regular times throughout each day.
Number of Employees Needed To Run This Business:
Minimum Number of Employees -During the Start Up Phase: You can start this business yourself on a full- or part-time basis, but it is not recommended. Running a petting zoo will likely require at least one employee if you are doing it on your own. This means an increase in your insurance and it also means a salary.
Number of Employees - Once Your Business is Up and Running Successfully:
- Website maintenance
- Cleaning of animals
- Cleaning of animal corrals and cages
- Feeding and watering of animals
- Upkeep of veterinary records and shots
- Bookkeeping
- Onsite veterinarian or veterinarian assistant
- Groomer
- Some people hire care takers to care for the animals while they are off at farms and other boarding areas, which is fine provided that you are still willing to ensure that they are getting the personal attention they need.
Skilled Job Trades:
Here some of the skills necessary to run this type of business other than the necessary business skills:
- Handling of different kinds of animals
- Veterinary/vet assistant or animal care background
- Zoo management
- Safety precautions for animals and people
- Animal husbandry
Petting Zoo Licenses:
 You will be required to hold a permit for your petting zoo business (running a petting zoo if you do not have a Class C license is illegal).
All petting zoo businesses that operate in United States are normally required to have a Class C Exhibitor's License issued by the Department of Agriculture. This requirement is specifically the case for either managing a zoo operation or for transporting animals to various locations throughout the state for educational purposes. For an exotic petting zoo, get permits for all exotic animal as is required by law.
You will need to contact the authorities in your local area for information on what steps you must take to be issued all required licenses and permits.
You will also need a business license, tax i.d. number, and current licensing of all the animals as required by your state's animal laws.
Approximate Minimum Petting Zoo Start up Cost:
Bare essential: - $2,000 - $5,000 if you already have the animals; additional costs involve advertising, licenses, permits, animal care, and insurance fees for liability coverage.
Minimal exposure - Advertising methods such as newspaper ads, flyers and business cards will run approximately $250 to start. On farm: ads in pet and parent publications; flyers at pet, grocery, and department stores; direct mail to preschools, day care centers, and homes for special-needs children. Traveling: direct mail to boroughs, towns, and organizations that have annual fairs.
Necessary Equipment Necessary to a Petting Zoo:
Necessary Start-Up Equipment & Supplies:
- Pens, cages, corrals
- Trailer
- Truck or van
- Feed
- Water
- 10 acres of farmland is recommended for onsite petting zoos (or enough sod for shelters)
- Rakes
- Shovels
- Buckets
- Rope
- Wheelbarrow
- Fencing
- Heating and air conditioning units
- Gloves
- First-Aid Kit
- Trash bags or containers for debris and animal droppings
- Cell phone
Supplementary Equipment and Considerations: - Equipment or helpful solutions that you can acquire to once your business is off and running:
- Some people hire care takers to care for the animals while they are off at farms and other boarding areas, which is fine provided that you are still willing to ensure that they are getting the personal attention they need.
- Onsite dumpsters
- Additional trucks or vans
- Cordless, gasoline-powered equipment
- Composting containers
- Dispatch units and service
Monthly Expenses To Consider:
- Answering and/or cell phone service
- Land, lot, or other animal housing
- Wages
- Heavy equipment rental such as trailers
- Feed/water
- Internet access
- Certifications, licensing
- Advertising/Marketing
- Electricity
- Fuel for mobile petting zoo transportation
Petting Zoo - Special Requirements:
- Purchase Liability Insurance - As a petting zoo operator, you will want to protect your assets in the event that someone should become injured while visiting your zoo. Therefore, be sure to purchase good liability
 insurance. To do this, you can contact insurance companies that offer commercial liability coverage, and ask for a quote. If you are starting an exotic petting zoo business, make sure to mention this to the property insurance agent so that he or she can give you a quote that will serve as adequate coverage.
- Adequate space for both the animals and visitors is an absolute must. Therefore, you should purchase a range of about 10-15 acres of raw land at the very minimum for your petting zoo business. Make sure that the land is easily accessible to the public, and that there are no land restrictions anywhere near your zoo. This is especially the case for exotic petting zoo operations.
Also, it is a good idea to check land and building codes with your state's zoning department so that your are fully aware of certain zoning bylaws. Lastly, make certain that all predatory animals are kept away from their prey to avoid any type of attack and conquer situation. Always do an extensive amount research, and seek the advice and assistance of zoo experts and animal care specialists.
- Create guideposts to instruct visitors on where they can see all of the animals during their sightseeing tour of your facility. Have a tablet or plaque close by with details describing each animal by species type and breeding facts; especially if you are running an exotic petting zoo with rare animal species. Also, make absolutely sure that your facility is secure enough so that it is completely safe for your visitors.
- Always purchase your animals from a licensed vendor, and be satisfied that that vendor is fully qualified. Be sure to check all of his or her legal credentials, and examine these credentials carefully to make certain that they are updated by a government-sponsored organization or state commission. The basic criteria that you should go by when selecting your animals is that they are people-friendly, are well-behaved around other animals, have been properly cared for by the previous owner, and are disease-free. If you decide to purchase animals for an exotic petting zoo business, contact your local authorities to secure permits for handling such animals if necessary.
- Always provide your animals with a healthy nutrition, proper physical fitness, and regular vaccinations. Give them lots of love and nurturing. Pay very close attention to behavior patterns, and watch for signs of odd conduct and toxic emotional issues. Address all health concerns immediately as they occur. Completely groom them daily, and keep them as comfortable and as happy as possible. Allow them to rest and play when needed. Keep your petting zoo or exotic petting zoo sanitary, and make sure that you adjust the temperature settings for your animal facility according to weather conditions. Maintain adequate heating for the cold winter seasons, and central cooling during the hot summers.
- If you are starting a mobile petting zoo business, you will have to purchase temporary mobile units to transport your animals from one location to the next. You can start out by leasing trailers and trucks for tours to schools, private parties, and country fairs. After raising a bit more capital, you should then invest in your own trailers and trucks. Just make sure that they are cleaned regularly, are in good mechanical condition, and are properly registered and insured. Also, you must see to it that each of your drivers hold a commercial driver license (CDL) with Class A status, and that they all have good driving records.
Pros And Cons or Running A Petting Zoo:
The Pros of Running a Petting Zoo Business:
- Ideal business for animal lovers
- Excellent side business for farms and ranches
- You get to work outside
- You provide a fun and educational service
- This business is completely expandable
- Lots of fun
- Minimal competition
- Can travel
The Cons of Running a Petting Zoo Business:
- Work tends to slow down during the winter months
- A lot of heavy lifting and hauling machinery of all different types is required
- Caring for sick animals can get extremely costly
- High liability for people to get hurt or bitten (hence, high liability insurance costs)
- Many hours of upkeep
- Consistent monitoring and adherance to all laws, rules and regulations
- Opposition from animal activists
- Zoning laws may prohibit certain types or numbers of animals to be kept on your property
Type of Customers You Need to Attract For A Petting Zoo :
 You will be mostly catering to families, so you need to be very kid friendly as well as able to communicate to adults. You will need to establish boundaries about time of the visit and where people can and cannot go. You will need to make sure you are able to enforce these boundaries.
You must be able to say to people “I am sorry, but you will have to control your child or I will have to ask you to leave.”. Make sure you have good signs indicating what areas are off limits and do not allow people to wander on their own, but should stick together with you or a crew member.
Petting Zoo Business Statistics:
For people who love animals and appreciate the value that they bring in to a pet owner's life, pursuing a degree in Animal Care may be a rewarding career path. The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that jobs in this field will grow faster than average through 2014. Careers in animal care generally start out with on-the-job training, and this can be an invaluable way to learn the field and find out if it is the right one for you.
Therefore, having a petting zoo can be a profitable venture because of the educational and entertainment it provides to people of all ages.
Petting Zoo Revenues:
$5,000 - $30,000 per year as this is primarily a seasonal business for some but, depending on your niche, it can be a highly lucrative year 'round business.
Petting Zoo Resources:
Industry-Specific Websites:
Aphis
Petting Zoo Directory
Courses:
Education Portal
Wildlife Campus
World Wide Learning
Equipment and Supplies:
Animal Care
Shor-Line
Forums:
Zoomars
Associations:
Association of Zoos & Aquariums
American Association of Zoo Keepers
International Zoo Educators Association
Books:
Zoo Animals: Behaviour, Management and Welfare
Animal Biology and Care
Software:
AZA
Veterinary Software
Related Businesses:
- VeterinarianVeterinary assistance
- Rancher/Farmer
- Pony rides/Horseback riding
- Party-planning
- Animal boarding
- Animal Preservation
- Wildlife habitat
12 Steps To Starting A Petting Zoo:
Before You consider a petting zoo, See 16 Questions to Consider Before Starting a Business
1. Ensure A Petting Zoo Business is for You!
You have a choice as to what business you're going to start, so start one that's right for you. Getting into the right business can dramatically increase your success. Get into the wrong business and your success rate drops. Read Five Secrets to Getting into the Right Business for more information.
2. Understand How A Petting Zoo Operates
How can you run a Petting Zoo Business if you don't know much about the business? What if you run into an issue that you can't or won't deal with? Then what? You're in a business that you hate working in and that's a problem. See Understand How a Business Operates for more information.
3. Make Sure there is a Profitable Market for Your Business
What's the use of starting a Petting Zoo Business that is not profitable? You'll be putting all your effort in something that can't support itself or you. There are a variety of issues when it comes to setting the stage for profitability. See Tips for Identifying a Profitable Market.
4. Create a Business Plan For Your Petting Zoo
A business plan is a must for any size business because it helps you stay focused, see the big picture, and get funding. It's something that you create when you start your business and then update as your Petting Zoo Business evolves. Read our free online guide on How to Write a Business Plan
5. Set up your Business Team
Setting up your team includes finding the right employees and professionals that will help you run your Petting Zoo Business.
You don't need to employ everyone you work with, but you will need a team of people you can depend on, which could consist of a lawyer, accountant, banker, and consultant, as well as professionals in your industry. See Creating a Business Team for more on this subject.
6. Get a Small Business Loan if You Don't Have the Money to Start
If you don't have the money to get started, then you'll need the necessary financing or you won't have the opportunity to start your Petting Zoo Business. This can be done as a small business loan, a personal loan, or other small business financing options.
For more on financing your Petting Zoo Business see our guide on Financing Your Small Business
7. Legalize Your Petting Zoo
In order to run your Petting Zoo legally you'll need to abide by government rules and regulations on the state and local level.
You'll need to do your research, determine what type of business (sole proprietorship, corporation LLC, etc.) to register, create and register your business name, and register your Petting Zoo Business with state and local authorities.
To go through the business registration process, see Chapter 6: Making Your Business Legitimate, starting with 6 Easy Steps to a Good Business Name.
8. Get Equipment for Your Petting Zoo
In order to run your Petting Zoo successfully and efficiently you'll need to acquire the right type of equipment. How can you run an online business without a computer? You can't! This is an important issue. See Acquiring Equipment for more on this topic.
9. Insure Your Petting Zoo Business
Make sure you have the proper insurance for your Petting Zoo. Without the right coverage you could lose everything you've worked for. For tips on insuring your Petting Zoo Business, see our free online guide: Insuring Your Small Business.
10. Prepare To Accept Money
You'll need a way to accept money, you can't depend just on cash or checks. You'll need to accept plastic: Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. To do that you'll need to apply for a merchant account. See Setting Up a Merchant Account for more on this topic.
11. Set up Your Accounting System
Running a Petting Zoo Business requires you to collect taxes, and report your earnings. So it's best to set up an accounting system in before you start your Petting Zoo Business. See Setting Up Your Accounting System for more on this topic.
12. Acquire Customers for your Petting Zoo
In order to exist, every business needs customers. Getting customers is one thing you'll need to be good at. If you can master the tasks of getting customers, it's just like turning on a cash machine almost any time you want. See Acquiring Customers for more on this topic
See Also: Our Free Online Guide to Starting A Business
Petting Zoo Business Issues:
Estimating Startup Costs - Find out if you're forgetting something
Business Location - Choosing A suitable one For Your Petting Zoo
Build or Buy A Business? - Buying an existing Petting Zoo
Business Builders For Your Petting Zoo Business:
Business cards for Your Petting Zoo Business
Business Plan for Your Petting Zoo Business
Business Insurance for Your Petting Zoo Business
Small Business Loans: Finance Your Petting Zoo Business
Small Business Marketing For Your Petting Zoo Business
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