How To Start A Petting Zoo

What Is Involved In Running A Petting Zoo Business?

At a petting zoo business, the animals must be kept clean. The owner has to make sure that all of the animals and their enclosures, both mobile as well as permanent, are washed regularly and kept clean of feces or any other contaminants.

In addition, the animals must also be socialized properly so that they are not timid or jumpy around people, especially children who tend to get excited around the animals.

Each day the animals must be checked thoroughly to make sure that none seem ill and need to be quarantined or taken to the veterinarian. All animals at a petting zoo must be seen by a vet on a regular basis to ensure that they are kept up to date on all of the necessary immunizations.

All of the animals must be fed, watered and exercised every day in order to stay healthy and happy.

For entertainment events like children's parties, the animals are loaded up in sufficient hauling trailers and driven to the location. A fence is set up to hold the animals so the partygoers can interact with them easily.

Equipment Necessary To Run A Petting Zoo Business:

Animals
Adequate shelter for the animals
Transportation for the animals
Fencing that is easy assembled and disassembled

The Cons Of Running A Petting Zoo Business:

Involves a lot of time and work
Certain places forbid you to have animals on your property
Can be a costly business to start

The Pros Of Running A Petting Zoo Business:

Not much competition
Enjoyment of working with children and animals

Skills Necessary To Run A Petting Zoo Business:

Adequate understanding, knowledge and working skills to take care of the animals
Patience
Business skills
Marketing skills

Licenses Necessary For Running A Petting Zoo Business:

You must register your petting zoo business with the local, state and federal government.

In addition, you must obtain any license that may be required to have a large number of animals.

Running a petting zoo if you do not have a Class C license is illegal.

You have to maintain permits and pass inspections. You must be insured, have a valid license and be certified by the United States Department of Agriculture in order to obtain the permits necessary to operate a petting zoo. To obtain an exhibitor's license, you have to have liability insurance.

Zoo Associations:

Association of Zoos & Aquariums

American Association of Zoo Keepers

International Zoo Educators Association

Employees & Job Requirements:

It is vital to have a sufficient staff for your petting zoo. Each animal needs someone to watch it to make sure that it is not agitated and does not lash out at visitors. In addition, you may want to hire someone to help with feeding and watering the animals every day.

Approximate Minimum Startup Cost:

Startup costs for petting zoo business vary depending on the number and type of animals you keep, as well as the type of zoo you wish to run, such as animal rental, mobile petting zoo for parties, stationary petting zoo, etc.

The equipment and shelter that is necessary to house and maintain the animals is quite expensive, but you may be able to save money by purchasing used equipment and using the animals you already own.

Estimated minimum startup for a petting ranges from $10,000 to over $50,000.

12 Steps to starting A Petting Zoo Business

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 Business 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 Business

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 Business

In order to run your Petting Zoo Business 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 Business

In order to run your Petting Zoo Business 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 Business. 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 Business

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's:

Estimating Startup Costs - Find out if you're forgetting something

Business Location - Choosing A suitable one For Your Petting Zoo Business

Build or Buy A Business? - Buying an existing Petting Zoo Business

Petting Zoo Business Research:

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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

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