A local petting zoo may be your option if your goal is to own and operate a business with regular hours and procedures. Traveling petting zoos often make stops at places like schools, daycares, retirement homes, community centers, and public events. [2] X Research source
You may need additional permits to work with exotic breeds. Review the farming and animal handling laws in your region to brush up on what sorts of practices are allowed
Is your petting zoo going to be a temporary endeavor or a full-time commitment? The answer to this question will help you determine whether it would be cheaper in the long run to buy or rent. Even if you’re launching a traveling petting zoo, you’ll still need a place to house your animals and serve as a base of operations between showings.
Consider taking out a business loan or seeking outside investors to supplement the capital you’ve already got. Keep in mind that you won’t be making a profit right away, so you’ll need to have enough money saved up to keep the business afloat through the early weeks and months.
Proceed with a simple, intuitive layout in mind. Configure your property in a long line and have visitors work their way from one end to the other, or situate the pens in a loop so they end up back where they started.
If space permits, you could include other buildings like a separate storage room or gift shop. Once you’re ready to break ground, hand off your plans to a team of specialty contractors to get construction underway.
Place benches, picnic tables, or similar seating at regular intervals so tired visitors will have somewhere to sit and rest. Designate one or two especially scenic areas as backdrops where people can have their pictures made with the animals.
It’s vital that you go through a reputable, licensed dealer when stocking your pens. In this case, you’re looking for a Class A or Class B AWA license, which says that the vendor has permission to buy, sell, and trade live animals under federal law. [10] X Research source You’ll have quite a bit of freedom when it comes to the types of animals you put on display, as long as they meet the conditions of your exhibitor’s license and don’t pose a threat to the safety of your customers or any of the other animals.
Decorate your convoy of vehicles with banners and decals bearing the name of the petting zoo to advertise while you’re on the go to and from various events.
Advertise jobs at your petting zoo to students, farm hands, and other individuals who are interested in working with animals on a part-time basis. In addition to hourly employees, you should hire at least one or two experienced animal handlers to see to the animals’ daily needs.
$8-10 for an adult is average, with a reduced rate of $5-7 for kids. Offering special discounts for small children and seniors may help to attract more business. For appearances at birthday parties and other events, charge a flat rate somewhere between $100-200 per hour. [14] X Research source
Post your hours near the entrance of the zoo where they can be seen easily by those passing by. If you’ve launched a website for your business, be sure to list the information there, as well. Remember to update your hours to reflect holidays, special events, and necessary closures.
See if other small businesses in your area would be willing to help you advertise. Take advantage of the reach of social media by setting up a Facebook, Instagram, or even a Twitter account for your business.
