Hi everyone. My name is Erin and I am starting a dog treat business. Everyone that I have told my idea to thinks that is is a great idea. I have also looked and it seems to be a very high demand business. People these days treats there pets like children. They only buy there pets the best in everything from food, treats, and toys.

I am kind of at a dead end wall in all aspects of the business. I have all this great advice and feedback from everyone. But all of ths sudden I am starting to think that even thoough it is a business in high demand right now that I will not have a high enough or regualar customer base to make it worth my whilte.

I have tons of questions, and would like all sorts of opinions on many different things. I guess I am just looking for someone to talk business with, if you would like to help me out please E-mail me!!

I know my boyfriend and family can only take so much hearing about all of this.

Thanks for your time, look forward to hearing from you!!!

Hi there,

Since you've done your research and got things moving, but are worried about losing demand or your customer base, take some time each day to work on those two things. I find that working directly on what I'm worried about makes me think clearer about it. With a clear head, you may find it's nothing to worry about.

Trust your gut. If it's saying "create demand with education for potential customers" and "prepare to expand customer awareness effort", then listen :D

Just brainstorming, and I don't know what you have so far, but for increasing demand maybe your packaging could educate your customers with a little more explanation of the value of your treats compared to mass-manufactured treats: Fresher ingredients? Special ingredients? Better flavor? Handmade? Locally made? More affordable than other gourmet treats? Loved by your own dogs?

For expanding your customer base, free samples could be good. A 1/2 or 1/3 size pack of treats with your contact information is a great thing to hand out, or make available, at the SPCA, pet adoption events, at the dog park, at the regular park, etc. Handed out in pairs so they'll have one to share could have a viral effect.

Hope this helps!

Crystal
Digital Curator
http://bigbrightbulb.com
Advice, ideas, answers, and inspiration for the smallest businesses with the smallest budgets

Yeah that is a good idea. Here I will explain my thinking to you. I get to a point where I either feel that there is nothing to do or so much to do I don't know where to start. I am totaly new and the whole having your own business thing of course. Both my mom and my dad each owned there own companies...

So here is where I am..maybe you can clear my head out for me, it really helps when I talk to someone else

I am in the middle of making a website, which needs work
I need to make treats to weigh them to price them so that I can put them on the website.
I want to seel bandandas, toys and blankets. I have made a few toys and the pictures are posted on my website.
I want to start advertising but I am not sure if that is a good idea if i am not regiestered as a business yet and I dont have insurance. But then again my thought was to start to see if there will be a great enough demand and then get those things a little later down the road.

I have been told to drop my treats of in dog stores, animals sheleters, little shops ect...but I am afraid that they will say not or not be interested and on top of that again i am not a complete legal business yet.

Then I have thought about putting flyers up in apartments, houses, cars, stores, shops ect...

But even before I do that I feel that I should make a few more types of treats ( we already have 4 or 5 differnt kinds) to get more of a choice out there for the customers, but right now i am short on money and dont have any cash to buy all of the ingredients to keep those 4 or 5 types of treats in stock

sorry for writing a book, what do you think. I am so overwhelemed my brain is on overload please help THANKS!

No problem at all! Those all sound like healthy concerns of a Business Woman In Action. Probably the first thing to do is prioritize your list and take them one at a time. Here are my suggestions:

1. Register your business
I suggest doing this first (and real soon) because you mentioned more than once that not being registered was holding you back from a critical marketing/promotion task (advertising and give-aways). The business won't move forward if it's kept secret :) I don't know what time it is there, but get this started today if you can, even if just a phone call to see how.

2. Bring your website to a close (for the moment)
It does take a lot to create content for a website, but the nice thing is you don't have to finish every bit before you can launch it. Most importantly, make, weigh, and price treats to sell because they're your main product.

The bandanas, toys, and blankets are a great idea, but put them aside for now. They will be a great extra when you've got everything running well, but you have enough to focus on with registration, the website, and spreading the word. Take them off or put "coming soon" next to those so folks will know they'll be available sometime.

3. Spread the word
You seem hesitant to get out there and distribute your treats, which is understandable. No one wants to be turned down or away! But secret businesses don't succeed, so figure out some ways to spread the word that you are comfortable with.

For example, if you're uncomfortable with introducing yourself, send a postcard** introducing your product and saying you'll be dropping by soon with freebies they can share with their customers. That way they'll already expect you, you'll feel less of a stranger, and 'Free' is always welcome!

Hanging flyers is another good idea, but don't give up on face-to-face contact with those super-valuable folks at the shelters, stores, and shops.

** Don't send a letter, they may not open it, but just about everyone reads the back of postcards!


One thing for certain, I don't think you need more than 4 or 5 kinds, especially if you're already tight on cash. Too many choices can be overwhelming for your customers anyway, so stick to the goodies you have and focus on getting legal, finishing your site, and spreading the word.

You're doing great, keep going!


Crystal
Digital Curator
http://bigbrightbulb.com
Advice, ideas, answers, and inspiration for the smallest businesses with the smallest budgets

Wow thanks for all the advise that really helped claer up my mind. sometimes i just can;t do it on my own heheh..

I don't really want to put out the large amount of cash right now to register the business and get insurance and everything I would perfer todo that down the road but how important do you really think it is right now?

I mean yes anyone can get in trouble but I kind of want to wait as long as possible but i dont know

what are your thoughts on this?? still should be the first thing that I do?

so what i think i am going to do is stick to the few treats that we have stock up on them and go from there with weight ect...and put that info on the website and then like you said i will send out some postcards. but the reason that i wanted to add a few more treats to the list was becuase i really wanted to do ones that were yogurt or carbob dipped and them i had alot of people ask about wheat free so i would like to offer atleast one wheat free treat

My pleasure, it really does help to get another person churning on an idea. You can brainstorm with just one brain, but you can get a real downpour when you have two or more brains stormin' :)

I suggested doing the business registration first because you mentioned (twice) that it was keeping you from telling people about your business. That made it really important to do.

But if it's not affordable right now, do just like you said: focus on finishing the website, building up your stock, and sending out postcards with your website address while you save up for the registration fees.

I'm wondering...if you haven't already, find out the absolute minimum you need to get legal to sell? I'm sorry I don't have advice to offer on this, but I don't sell products. For a service business in my state, I only needed a $25 trade name registration to get started. Hopefully someone with retail experience will contribute to the convo...

One thing for certain, if folks are asking for wheat-free, then make them! Adding that to your stock, you could drop the least popular flavor of what you carry now to keep the same number of kinds...less overwhelm.

So cool that customers are excited about your product that they're making requests! I bet they will be tickled to see that you honored their request.

You're rolling! Good luck!


Crystal
Digital Curator
http://bigbrightbulb.com
Advice, ideas, answers, and inspiration for the smallest businesses with the smallest budgets

Well now that I am talking about it again I will look in to it...I think its 55.00 but i am not completely sure on all the legal aspects of it, I think that i just need to register my business and that is it...so i will look in to that and get back to you and let you know!!

Looking forward to it!


Crystal
Digital Curator
http://bigbrightbulb.com
Advice, ideas, answers, and inspiration for the smallest businesses with the smallest budgets

Yay I am so excited lol. I found out that I do not have to have a licenese i just need to apply for what i believe is called a home occupation permit and reg my business name for 50.00!!

So thats relaxing, now i feel like things are really moving along!!

Hey, that's awesome! What a big step forward for not too much money! And the best part is, no more barriers to getting the word out and sharing what you have.

Sorry I didn't your message last week, I only saw other people's responses when I came back.

Congratulations!! :D


Crystal
Digital Curator
http://bigbrightbulb.com
Advice, ideas, answers, and inspiration for the smallest businesses with the smallest budgets

hehehehe thanks so much

I don't think it's a concern yet, but you might want to check with the FDA to see if they have begun to regulate dog foods yet. They've been talking about it since the Chinese dog food scandal last year.

T

>Well now that I am talking about it again I will look in to
>it...I think its 55.00 but i am not completely sure on all the
>legal aspects of it, I think that i just need to register my
>business and that is it...so i will look in to that and get
>back to you and let you know!!


Tina Brooks, VP Marketing
Brooks Pepperfire Foods, Inc.
Makers of Peppermaster Hot Sauces
http://www.peppermaster.com

Eat more peppers!

Check with them even if I am not selling the food, I am only selling treats, and all ingredients are listed on the website and the package. and all of the ingredients are things that you and I eat everyday. such as flour, eggs, butter, cheese, oatmeal, peanut butter..ect nothing you can not pronouce and have never heard of before

>Check with them even if I am not selling the food, I am only
>selling treats, and all ingredients are listed on the website
>and the package. and all of the ingredients are things that
>you and I eat everyday. such as flour, eggs, butter, cheese,
>oatmeal, peanut butter..ect nothing you can not pronouce and
>have never heard of before

A dog treat is food. If the FDA decides they're going to finally put dog food regulations into place, yes, treats will be covered.

T

Tina Brooks, VP Marketing
Brooks Pepperfire Foods, Inc.
Makers of Peppermaster Hot Sauces
http://www.peppermaster.com

Eat more peppers!

ok well i will do that when I here that it goes into place

here are my thoughts:

1) you are doing great getting the support of others. Congrats!

2) you are dong right by creating a business plan; however, the plan is NEVER done -- well as long as your company is running. Your plan should provide you with a set of priorities to use each day, goals to go after, strategies to use (and change as needed), and help you create a project management system (even if that system is on paper in a binder). If you don't have that sort of plan, go to www.TheResourceQueen.com/samples.html and learn more about the planning resources that are out there to assist you. I use the one-page plan myself. It's on my desk, it's used daily.


3) worrying about clients is a usual part of business, don't fret about it. Turn the worry into consistant action.

4) a simple low cost (not free) one is fine for the business type you're providing. Include the cities and county and state you work in in your keywords. Capture your visitors addresses (ezine, ecourse, blog). (my recommendations are at my resource queen site) Why? you will be surprised a the number of people who will use the web to find you.

5) many people "try out" their business for a few months before getting their S Corp or LLC set up and licenses (including a license from the health department since you are making treats? and possibly one other department) from the state.

However, since you're selling a product, trying on is not a choice.

Your business plan should have in it all the start up costs; including licenses and insurance. Why?
Because it could cost you and your family more than money should something happen.
Let's say something happens to someone's animal and they get sick or worse. Let's say that on that day they had your treats that day.
If you haven't protected yourself with a S Corp, C Corp or LLC (your lawyer or accountant) can help you choose one) you will be sued. Even if it wasn't your treats, you could loose everything and if you're living at home, that's worse, too! And even if it wasn't your fault, you could end up shelling out legal fees and some % of the blame. So get protected.


6) and if you don't have a business license and someone from the city or town or country finds your business cards or flyers, and checks the records, you will get penalties. (yes, in some places, many places, people from the municipalities collect cards, check the computer and if you are not paying a license fee, you get penalties or worse.)

For license info:
a) your states website for business start up.
b) your library for a book specifically to start up a business in your state.
c) SCORE or SBA for start up info
d) your states DOR for sale tax info.
e) IRS site for an EIN number (you'll need this if you are an LLC, S or C Corp or have employees, banks want it (for example) and it's free.
f) your city/town and county to see what rules/fees/licenses they have for businesses.

Every state is different. In NC, I only needed a county licences. In WA, I need a state licsence, city licsence for any city I sell in and I pay taxes to the county, too.


7) I would think that on the treats you have to charge sales tax?? on your products. Go to your states website, learn what you need, go to the library and get that part of the business going. And see if your state provides a sales tax class (usually free).

8) don't make more kinds of treats now. Three is enough for people new to your product to handle. Then as you get recommendations, put it on your "to think of list". OR use the other 2 types in a way to increase your sales. For example: once you have your clients introduce a "new" flavor (one that you already had, but didn't advertise)


Just a few things to think about as you bring your new food to market.

hi there, my business plan is done we dont have sales tax here in oregon and in the county that i am in we do not require business liecense. i make 12 kids of treats and my site is up and running but always tons of work to be done and changes as well.

I am new to the idea cafe but wanted to jump in. My dear friend owns a very successful dog bakery in Ohio and I have had the occasion to go to a LARGE pet industry trade show with her in Chicago a couple times. The pet industry seems to get bigger every year. Here are a few things that she seems to struggle with, even with the success she has worked so hard for in the past 3 years of having a brick and mortar location. (she worked out of her home for 2 years before that, just doing farmers markets, fairs, etc.)

1. for boutique items, you have to get VERY unique items because the big box stores will undersell you every time. Get the namebrand items that are guaranteed replaceable by the mfr, so you dont have to worry about losing money. (esp with collars and leashes, if you plan on selling stuff like that down the line.)

2. treats are a small per item product, so to cover your costs, you have to be able to get out there enough to sell enough - every weekend usually (until you have a storefront and employees). Get your name out there everywhere and anywhere you can.

3. double and triple check licensing requirements, because in her state, she has to be registered with the dept of agriculture to make and sell dog treats! many "would be competitors" were closed down asap because they did not do proper registrations beforehand

4. love love love the puppies. the one thing that makes her most successful is that her love of dogs shines through in everything she does. She gives back all the time, donating time and $ to many animal groups in her area. Every event she runs, and she runs about 6-8 a year, she give a generous portion to charity. This puts her in the papers all the time and builds a great repoire within the animal community.

One last thing. She still loves going to work every day. She started it in her kitchen and now has her own store and about 6 employees. Go for it and dont look back!

hi there thanks for the advice, i dont have to req with the food and drug or anything i have checked all that and as i said before the county that i am in we do not need a licesnse i dont really want employees i want to work out of my home or someday my own shop around my house...but yeah love for dogs is for sure there love them to death just having problem getting the word out there and getting customers i am thinking maybe i should make some changes....

Very good idea.In another post,i said for one to start a new business with pets,you should try to love the pets and then you will find wht the pets owner need you to offer.I would like to talk with you for more information about this.

Thomas ---a pets clothes supplier
thomascap@vip.sina.com

Thomas what is it that you would like to talk more about? Yeah I have a dog of my own and i love him more than the world he is my baby

Yes,i agree with you.If you have business with pets,you shold find every way to love puppies everywhere at any time.I have a factory which produce dog clothes and accessories round year.You can contact with me to get cheap and good quality dog clothes.

Good luck.

Thomas Jiang
thomascap@vip.sina.com