ANSWERED: How Much Do Pet Store Owners Make?

You’re thinking about opening a pet store. Or maybe you already own one and you’re wondering if other owners are doing better financially. Either way, you want the truth about how much pet store owners make.

To be direct, most pet store owners earn between $33,000 and $60,000 per year. That’s the reality for independent pet store owners across the country based on recent data. Some earn less in the early years while building a customer base. Others, especially those in prime locations with strong service offerings, can push into six figures.

This isn’t a get-rich-quick business. It’s a grind-it-out, build-relationships, manage-your-margins business. But it can be profitable and personally rewarding if you approach it strategically.

In this blog, we’ll break down what actually affects pet store owner income and share practical ways to improve your earnings.

Let’s dive in.

What Pet Store Owners Actually Earn

The hourly breakdown tells an interesting story. ZipRecruiter’s recent stats show pet shop owners earning an average of $23.56 per hour, which translates to roughly $49,000 annually for full-time work. But many owners work well beyond 40 hours per week, especially in the first few years.

First-year owners typically earn less while managing startup costs and building their clientele. By year three, most established stores see income stabilize. Owners who add high-margin services like grooming often exceed the national average within five years.

Franchise pet stores operate differently. Franchise owners pay ongoing fees but benefit from brand recognition and established systems. Independent store owners keep all profits but shoulder more risk and greater marketing responsibility.

Profit Margins Tell the Real Story

Understanding profit margins helps you see where your income actually comes from. Every business operates on gross and net margins, but knowing the typical ranges for pet stores shows you what’s realistic to expect.

Gross margins represent what you keep after paying for products. Pet stores typically see gross margins between 30% and 50%. Premium pet food often delivers 35–40% margins, while accessories like toys and collars can reach 50–70%.

Net margins show what’s left after all expenses — rent, utilities, payroll, insurance, and marketing. For pet stores, net margins typically range from 5–20%. This is your true profit and the source of your personal income.

Here’s what that looks like in practice: 

A store generating $35,000 in monthly revenue with a 12% net margin earns about $4,200 per month, or roughly $50,000 annually for the owner. That $50,000 is what remains after inventory, employee wages, rent, and other operating costs are paid. It’s your actual take-home pay.

Related Read: Pet Store Profit Margins by Product Category: What Actually Makes Money

Services Change the Game

Product sales alone don’t make you wealthy. Grooming, training, daycare, and boarding dramatically improve profitability because they carry much higher margins than retail products.

Grooming, in particular, can generate 60–70% gross margins. Standard grooming packages typically range from $40–$90, depending on dog size. A skilled groomer can usually handle five to six dogs per day. At an average price of $60 per appointment, that’s $300–$360 daily, or roughly $6,000–$7,200 per month per groomer. Even after paying wages or commissions, you keep significantly more profit from services than from products.

Services also create recurring revenue. Many customers book grooming every four to eight weeks, which leads to more predictable income and repeated opportunities to sell products.

Pet boarding and daycare add another layer of  steady revenue. These offerings work especially well in urban areas where pet owners travel frequently. While they require upfront investment in facilities and staffing, the margins often justify the effort.

Time Freedom vs. Income

Here’s something owners don’t talk about enough: Your income means nothing if you’re trapped in your store 70 hours per week.

Many pet store owners work themselves to exhaustion in the early years. 

As a pet shop entrepreneur, you have to handle:

• Purchasing and inventory management
• Customer service and sales
• Bookkeeping and financial tracking
• Marketing and promotions
• Daily operations and problem-solving

The store makes money, but it’s difficult to have a life outside of it.

Modern point of sale (POS) systems change this dynamic with:

• Automated inventory tracking: Monitor what’s selling and what needs reordering without manual counts.
• Sales reports: See which products and services drive profit, so you can make decisions quickly.
• Employee management features: Schedule staff efficiently and track their performance.

When systems handle repetitive work, you reclaim time. You can then focus on growth strategies instead of daily operations — and even take a day off without worrying about everything falling apart.

Time freedom and income growth aren’t opposites. Smart systems give you both.

Related Read: Pet Store Employee Training: 6 Critical Topics

What Eats Into Your Earnings

Operating costs directly impact how much you take home. Understanding these costs helps you manage them more effectively. Here’s a breakdown of the most important expenses to track:

• Cost of goods sold (COGS): This typically runs 45–55% of revenue. It covers what you pay suppliers for inventory. Strong supplier relationships and buying power can help lower this percentage.
• Labor costs: Based on store size and services offered, these expenses can vary. A small store might operate with just the owner and one part-time employee, while stores offering grooming and training require specialized staff. Higher payroll increases costs but also boosts revenue potential.
• Rent and utilities: These hit harder in prime urban locations. You might pay $4,000–$8,000 per month for retail space in a high-traffic area. That’s $48,000–$96,000 annually, coming out of your profit before you pay yourself.
• Marketing, insurance, licenses, and maintenance: Budget 5–10% of revenue for marketing if you want consistent growth. Insurance, permits, and unexpected repairs can consume another 5–10% of revenue.

The math is simple: Control costs without sacrificing quality, and you keep more profit.

How To Increase What You Take Home

Earning more as a pet store owner comes down to increasing revenue, improving margins, and controlling costs. Here are practical strategies that work:

• Diversify your product mix: Don’t just stock basic kibble and toys. Premium organic foods, specialty diets, and eco-friendly products command higher margins. Customers willing to pay for quality are your most profitable segment.
• Add high-margin services: If you’re not offering grooming, you’re leaving money on the table. Start with basic grooming services and expand based on demand. Training classes, pet sitting, and daycare all improve your bottom line while building customer loyalty.
• Build an online presence: Most pet owners research online before visiting stores. An e-commerce site lets you capture sales beyond your physical location. Local customers can order online for convenience, and you can reach customers in surrounding areas who might not visit in person.
• Use your POS data strategically: Track which products sell best and which sit on shelves. Adjust your inventory based on real sales data, not gut feeling. Then identify your most profitable customers to market specifically to them.
• Create recurring revenue: Subscription boxes, automatic reorder programs, and service packages keep customers coming back. Recurring revenue stabilizes your income and reduces the constant scramble for new sales.
• Control inventory shrinkage: Theft, damage, and expiration silently eat into profits. Modern inventory systems track every item and alert you to discrepancies quickly. Reducing shrinkage by even 2–3% annually can have a significant impact on your take-home pay.

Build Your Pet Store With eTailPet

Pet store ownership can be financially rewarding, but success requires smart systems and strategic decisions. You can’t manage what you don’t measure, and you can’t grow if you’re buried in manual processes.

eTailPet gives you tools designed specifically for your business. Track inventory in real time so you never run out of bestsellers or overstock slow-moving products. Manage multiple revenue streams — retail, services, e-commerce — all from one system. 

With our cloud-based platform, you can generate reports that show exactly where your revenue comes from and where you’re losing money. From there, schedule staff around traffic patterns and let automated reordering keep your inventory stocked without constant manual checks.

These aren’t just features — they’re ways to reclaim your time while boosting your earnings.

Ready to see how eTailPet helps you increase profitability and reduce daily stress? Schedule a demo today.