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How to Start Your Own Dog Treat Business

Starting a BusinessFinanceOperations

According to the American Pet Product Association (APPA), 67% of U.S. households own a pet of some kind, and more than 63 million U.S. households have a dog.

And these millions of dogs represent a burgeoning industry. From dog walkers to professional poop scoopers, mobile groomers to at-home pet sitters, the dog business is booming. In fact, APPA spending statistics show that in 2020, owners spent a combined $95.7 billion on their pets.

And what do owners spend most of their money on? Not veterinary bills, but FOOD!

So it’s no wonder that many entrepreneurs are turning their passion for their furry friends into "dog bakery" or "pet bakery" business opportunities.

The demand for healthful dog treats

Driven by a spate of mass-produced commercial dog food recalls, together with a general appreciation of the health and wellness benefits of a more healthful diet for our pets, the consumer demand for natural or organic dog food products is experiencing a significant uptick.

You only need to look in the aisles of independent pet stores to see that more and more entrepreneurs are capitalizing on this opportunity by producing and selling home-baked, healthy, and organic high-unit value dog treats and biscuits (oftentimes from their own recipes or drawn from the hundreds of recipes available online).

So if you are thinking of starting a doggy bakery (organic, whole food, or otherwise), here are some tips to get your dog treat business started and how to navigate the laws that govern the pet food production business.

Observe the proper steps to starting a business

If you are a first-time business owner or entrepreneur, or even if you have some experience under your belt, these 7 Legal Tips for Starting a Business will guide you through the process involved in making key business planning and financial decisions about starting a business.

Want to operate your business from home?

One of the first decisions you will need to make about starting your venture is choosing your business location. Starting a business out of your home is an increasingly popular and relatively low-risk option for entrepreneurs; however, it does bring with it several regulatory obligations—especially if you intend to produce commercial food products in your home.

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Food preparation options for home-based business

If you intend to commercially produce food from your home whether for animal or human consumption, you have several options when it comes to the food preparation. Check out Selling Food From Your Home for an overview of "cottage food" laws, as well as an overview of how cottage food law regulations differ from state to state.

Understand the laws that govern pet food production

Although there is no requirement that pet food products need pre-market approval by the FDA, the agency, via the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), does require that pet foods, like human foods, be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled. For more information about pet food regulation and marketing, visit the FDA's Pet Food page and the Animal and Veterinary page for additional information.

You should also check with your county's Public Health Department for more information about proper business practices your dog treat business should follow.

Will your dog treat business produce and market organic pet treats?

Organic food production is a heavily regulated industry, and here the same laws that apply for human consumption apply to pets, too.

To be truly organic in the production and retailing of pet food, you must be certified by the USDA, which requires compliance with production handling standards, labeling laws, and so on. Read Organic 101: Five Steps to Organic Certification from the USDA to understand what a "certified organic" food product is and how you can get certified.

Additional resources to start your dog treat business

  • American Pet Products Association: A nonprofit trade association serving the interests of the pet products industry.
  • How to Start a Food Business (FDA)

Profile: Caron Beesley

Caron Sharp has over 14 years of experience working in marketing, with a particular focus on the government sector. She writes the Government Resources for Business blog on AllBusiness.