From: Lake Worth, FL

Dear TaxMama,

I am a young girl and I want to start my own pet store.

I have tried to study up, but nothing I read is too helpful.

So my question is, how do you start a pet store?

Logan

 

 

Dear Logan,

Well, the first thing you need to do is look up the licensing information in your town and in your state.

Find out what kind of regulations you'll be dealing with - for instance, business license, zoning, health department, sales taxes.

You can find all that information by either searching the city's and the state's website - or going into City Hall and asking the Clerk's office to help you. You might also consider talking to the advisors are SCORE - that's the Service Corps of Retired Executives.

They'll give you free advice - and help you develop a business plan and explain some of the specifics about running a retail business.

Get your parent's involved. You'll need their help. Working with pets, live beings, well, that may be fun, but it's a huuuuuge responsibility. It's much more work and more of a commitment than any other kind of retail business. Remember - there are live animals you have to take care of - all the time. Even at night, or when you are in school.

It's an ambitious project. But if you really want to do it - and can get your friends or others to work for you and help you care for the animals - you can achieve it.

Good luck.
Eva Rosenberg, MBA, EA