Do you want to learn how to start a dog treat business? This is what my friend Kristin Larsen does from Diva Dog Bakery. She is one of my favorite dog treat business success stories! If you want to make extra money, today I’m sharing everything you need to know about starting your own dog treat bakery from home.
Many people are choosing to put off having kids and they are treating their pet dogs as children. Also, as people are becoming more health-conscious, they’re also paying attention to the ingredients in the dog food they buy.
Many pet treats are really bad for dogs and are often filled with unhealthy fillers. This is why the demand for healthy and delicious dog treats is high and continues to grow. Plus, some dogs follow specific diets and may require custom-made treats.
Does a dog bakery side hustle sound like a fun opportunity for you? Here you’ll find practical tips to help you learn how to start a dog treat business at home. In this post, I’ll cover:
- How much money you can make selling homemade dog treats
- How much it will cost to start a dog treat business from home
- How to price your dog treats so you can make the most money
- Where to sell your pet food (either in-person or online)
- How to promote your dog treat bakery for free
- A comprehensive Dog Treat Bakery course you can take to learn everything you need to know to get started and be successful (Plus a FREE workshop for beginners)
Related Posts:
- 7 ways to make money working with dogs
- 18 fun hobbies that make money
- 34 things you can sell to make money right now
Table of Contents
Can I make dog treats at home and sell them?
Yes, you can make homemade dog treats and sell them for profit. As long as you follow your state or country’s regulations, it’s legal to sell homemade dog treats.
There are many great reasons to why you might want to learn how to start a dog bakery business at home.
If you love dogs and like the idea of making healthy treats for them, then this could be the perfect combination to help you build a thriving and profitable business.
There’s a HUGE market for this type of business. This is because many people love to spoil their dogs and treat them like members of their family.
Did you know that the global pet care market was valued at $150.67 billion in 2021?
Tasty treats can come in handy to help pet owners celebrate their dog’s birthday, a special milestone, an afternoon snack, or even a reward for good behavior.
My neighborhood is full of people who have dogs. They love socializing with other dog owners at the local dog park or taking them to the pet store to pick out a special treat. Many dog walkers also like to have dog treats handy to give away to their canine clients.
Starting your own dog bakery can be a great opportunity to get creative in the kitchen by developing tasty new flavor combinations.
Making homemade treats that dogs love and using quality ingredients may help you attract customers are who willing to pay more for natural ingredients.
You can even choose to focus on making treats that help dogs with skin allergies, joint pain or improving other specific issues. Every dog deserves a special treat! This can be a profitable business when you find the right customers.
How much money can you make selling dog treats?
As a beginner, you can make around $500-$1,000 a month selling homemade dog treats.
As a full-time business operating from your home kitchen, you can earn between $5,000 – $8,000 per month.
Many dog bakery business owners make around five or six-figures per month. To do so, you probably need to rent a ghost kitchen (local commerical kitchen), which is usually pretty affordable.
The amount you make will depend on a variety of factors such as:
- How tasty your dog treats are and if dogs enjoy them
- The quality of your ingredients and making sure they are pet-friendly
- Making sure that you’re optimizing your best-selling products
- How much your homemade dog treats sell for
- Where your dog treats are sold and where you ship them
- Your marketing and promotion strategy
Having a good product and the right customer can make this business extremely profitable.
Like any business idea, if you want to be successful, you need to be willing to put in the work.
Kristin from Diva Dog Bakery says the key to success is to set an income goal for yourself and decide whether you want to sell your dog treats online or in-person (or both)!
There are many channels you can choose to sell your dog treats, such as online shops like Etsy, or at brick and mortar stores, such as veterinarian offices, pet boutiques, doggie daycares, local dog walkers, grooming facilities, and pet stores.
FREE Workshop for Beginners:
If you’re interested in learning how to start a dog treat business at home, consider checking out this free workshop from Kristin.
After starting her own successful dog bakery from home, she now helps others learn how to make money selling dog treats.
Simply enter your name and email to sign up for free here.
Is it hard to start a dog treat business?
Like any business idea, it will require some effort in the beginning to get your dog treat business up and running.
However, since the start up costs are low, it has the potential to be successful when you choose to sell your homemade dog treats in person at local farmer’s and online.
This is a fun opportunity to get creative in your kitchen and develop do treats that your customers will love! Below is more information about the costs of starting a dog treat bakery.
How much does it cost to start a dog treat business?
One of the best parts about starting a dog treat business at home is that the start-up costs are low. This makes starting a pet bakery business at home very appealing.
The initial costs for starting your own dog bakery will depend on what baking equipment you already own.
Most people can start making dog treats using ingredients and tools they already have.
To get your dog treat business up and running, it will cost between $100 and $300 (on average in the USA). Some of the initial costs include:
- Ingredients to make your dog treats and baking supplies (save money by using tools you already have)
- Treat packaging costs
- Business license and registration fees (this will vary by state)
To keep costs low, you can start with ingredients and tools you already have by creating tasty samples in your kitchen. Then decide how you’ll package them and see how long they last.
Dog treats are a high profit margin product, so it’s easy to earn back your initial start-ups costs within the first month.
If you are brand new to baking, then here’s a few bakery tools you’ll need for your dog bakery business:
- Mixing bowls
- Rolling pin
- Stand mixer
- Cookie sheets
- Measuring spoons and cups
- Cupcake pan
- Oven to bake your dog treats
- Ingredients to make your dog treats, such as flour, eggs and so on.
In the beginning, I just recommend getting the basics to help keep costs low. Then you can decide if you want to invest in other fun baking tools, pretty packaging, and so on.
Best homemade dog treat recipes
Kristin, who has her own successful dog treat bakery, shares her award winning recipes in he Diva Dog Bakery™ course.
Dog treats are relatively simple to make, which makes this a great side hustle opportunity for beginners.
To help you get started, you can try a FREE homemade dog treat recipe from the Diva Dog Bakery course. Kristin shares her popular peanut butter dog treats. Get the free recipe here.
And if you need more easy recipes, below are some homemade dog treat recipes that you can try out in your kitchen.
PRO TIP: Instead of paying out of pocket for baking tools and ingredients to start your dog bakery, you can earn free gift cards from Swagbucks. I like using Swagbucks to get gift cards to stores like Amazon and Walmart, which can help cover the costs of items you might need for your dog treat side hustle. Make sure to verify your email address so you can start making money right away!
How much do homemade dog treats sell for?
Homemade dog treats sell for between $10 and $25. The price should be based on how much it costs for you to make them including the ingredients, packaging and other selling fees.
When pricing your treats, there should be a minimum of 30% profit margin on dog treats.
If you’re interested in learning more, Kristin offers guidance on how much to charge for dog treats in her course, Diva Dog Bakery.
Is selling homemade dog treats a good side job for you?
✓ Yes, if you love dogs (even if you don’t own one).
✓ Yes, if you want to learn how to bake. (There’s no baking experience required. Anyone can learn how to bake dog treats from home).
✓ Yes, if you want to make an extra $500 – $2,500 a month.
✓ Yes, if you want to turn your dog treat business into a full-time gig and earn up to six-figures.
Is selling dog treats profitable?
Yes! Starting a dog bakery business at home can be a profitable side hustle for the right clientele.
You can make money selling homemade pet treats on Etsy, at your local farmer’s market, or run it entirely as a home-based business. Below are some more facts that dog treats are in high demand:
- 61% of pet owners are willing to pay more for treats that target their pet’s dietary needs
- The demand for global pet treats market size & share reached $70 billion in 2020.
- 69% of millennials opt to buy natural and organic products for their pets
Where to sell your homemade dog treats
Here’s a few more things you may want to consider when starting your dog bakery business at home!
Start by promoting your dog treats to family and friends
It’s always important to start small with your business. Family and friends can be a great support system since they’ll give you honest feedback and reviews.
You can give them samples to try and if they enjoy them, word of mouth can spread, and this can help you attract new customers.
You’ll also need to come up with a fun dog treat business name. I recommend keeping it short and sweet. This will make it easy for customers to remember.
Selling dog treats on Etsy
Once you’re ready to get serious about your dog bakery business, you may want to consider using a professional website or online store like Shopify or Etsy to sell your homemade treats.
Some of Kristin’s students choose to sell their homemade dog treats online. Below is a bunch of online orders from a Diva Dog Bakery student.
If you decide to ship your dog treats, you’ll want to factor in this cost when pricing your items.
Using a trusted online platform like Shopify or Etsy can also make your customers feel safe since their personal information will be secure when buying from you.
Promote your dog treat bakery through a blog
Creating a basic website for your business can help establish your online presence.
If you want to start a blog to help promote your tasty dog treats, you can check out this easy step-by-step guide to get your blog up and running in minutes. Save 60% off blog hosting when you sign up through my tutorial.
Selling dog treats at farmer’s market or craft fairs
If you prefer to sell your dog treats in person, local farmer’s markets or craft fairs can be excellent options.
Depending on how many farmer’s markets you sign up for, you could earn $1,000 or more a week.
Check which farmer’s markets or craft fairs are happening near you. Remember that you might need to pay to set up a booth or table, but these costs can often be negotiated.
You may also want to offer free samples or special discounts in the beginning to help attract more customers.
Some of Kristin’s students choose to sell their homemade dog treats as local farmer’s markets and craft fairs. Below is a booth from a Diva Dog Bakery student.
Register your business
Once you’re ready to take your dog treat business to the next level, you’ll want to consider legitimizing your business.
This includes thinking of a name for your business, setting up a business bank account, and getting licensed. If you need name ideas, you can brainstorm possible ideas with friends or family.
You’ll also want to find out how to register your dog bakery business in your state or province and inquire about any labelling or guaranteed analysis requirements.
Contacting your local Chamber of Commerce can help you figure out if you need to obtain a dog treat business license or permit. They can also let you know the regulations for selling homemade dog treats.
Free Training for Beginners:
If you’re interested in learning how to start a dog treat business at home, consider checking out this free workshop from Kristin, the mastermind behind Diva Dog Bakery.
After starting her own successful dog treat bakery business from home, she now helps other aspiring entrepreneurs learn how to earn up to $1,000 per month selling homemade dog treats.
Enter your name and email to sign up for free here.
What is a good name for a dog business?
Picking a name for your dog treat business is important for branding because this is what people will remember.
Your business name should reflect both the product you’re selling (your homemade dog treats) and the customers you serve (pet owners).
Below are some things to consider when choosing a name for your homemade dog treat business:
- Choose a name that’s fun and catchy
- Choose a name that’s easy to spell and pronounce
- Choose a name that’s unique and easy to remember
- Choose a name that reflects the kind of dog treats you make
- Try to keep it short and sweet
- Make sure your name is not already being used by another business or filed as a trademark
- Check for the domain availability and social media handles
What supplies do I need to start a dog bakery business?
Fortunately the start-up costs are low when starting a dog bakery business, especially if you’ll be making the treats from home.
The supplies you’ll need will depend on what you already have in your kitchen. Here are a few dog bakery supplies and expenses you may want to consider:
Quality ingredients
Do a quick scan to see what’s in your kitchen or pantry. Chances are you can start baking dog treats with ingredients you already have at home, such as flour, eggs, and so on.
Start brainstorming possible flavor combinations and ideas for sweet or savory treats.
You’ll also want to do some research on pet-friendly ingredients that are safe for dogs and which ingredients you should completely avoid.
For example, if you’re choosing to use peanut butter in your dog treats, you probably want to choose natural peanut butter that doesn’t include any filler or junk ingredients.
Baking tools and supplies
You can use basic baking tools such as mixing bowls and cookie sheets, which I mentioned earlier in this post.
If you want to get creative with your dog treats, you may want to consider adding a few extra tools to your kitchen.
For example, a mini muffin tin to make cute pup cakes, a mini donut pan to make delicious pup donuts, and a variety of cookie cutters to create unique treats.
Remember, start with what you already have at home, you can also add more tools if you decide to grow and expand your business.
How long do homemade dog treats last?
When making homemade dog treats, you get to control what goes into them and make sure they only contain healthy, nutritious and natural ingredients.
Because you won’t find any artifical perservatives in homemade dog treats since they are created with love, their shelf-life will be different than commercial store-bought treats.
The most important factors that will impact homemade dog treat storage include their cooling time (after baking), what ingredients you use, and how you store the dog treats.
You’ll want to make sure to cool treats completely before storing them. Some ingredients have a longer shelf-life than others and storing them in an airtight container in the fridge can help them last longer.
Kristin from Diva Dog Bakery, shares more information about how to properly store and package homemade dog treats to maintain optimal freshness in her dog treat course.
How to keep costs low when starting a dog treat business
Below are some ways to start a dog treat bakery for cheap:
- Use ingredients and baking supplies that you already have.
- Order stock bags or boxes online and apply your own sticker to package and brand your homemade dog treats.
- Make homemade dog treats in your own kitchen. Once your business starts growing, you can scale it further by renting a ghost kitchen.
- Start by selling your dog treats to local farmer’s markets, craft fairs, and expo’s to get exposure.
- Promote your dog treat business on social media and ask your friends and family to share your links with others.
- Invest in a course, such as Diva Dog Bakery, that will show you step-by-step how to start a dog treat business at home. This takes out all the guess work and trial and error of trying to do everything on your own.
How to promote your dog treat business
Promoting your dog bakery business is one of the most important steps. You could have the best-tasting dog treats ever, but if no one knows about your business, they won’t be able to buy from you.
My friend Kristin from Diva Dog Bakery, started her own profitable dog treat business and knows everything there is to know about how to successfully promote a dog bakery.
She was tired of the boring treats she saw at big-box stores and wanted to create a gourmet dog treat that would be fun to bake at home.
Kristin started recipe testing in her kitchen using quality ingredients that she felt good about feeding her dog and came up with an all-natural treat that looked amazing and her dogs loved too.
That’s when her dog bakery business, Diva Dog Bakery, was born!
Below are some of the homemade dog treats she bakes and sells in her side business. Kristin can teach you how to make these beautiful dog treats too in her course, Diva Dog Bakery™.
She set up an Etsy Shop to promote and sell her dog treats and cupcakes. On the weekends, she also started selling at a nearby farmer’s market.
Any leftover treats were dropped off at her local animal shelter, so it was a win-win for everyone.
It didn’t take long before her dog treat bakery project turned into a booming side hustle business. Kristin’s bakery was picked up by print magazines and online press.
She was even invited to participate for the Emmy Awards to gift her dog treats in the swag bags. It was a dream come true!
Kristin recommends these three key strategies to promote and make your dog bakery business successful:
1) Create a social media presence
Having a solid social media presence can be an excellent way to promote your dog treat business.
She recommends setting up a Facebook page or Instagram profile. Here you can share pictures of your dog treats and behind the scenes of your baking process.
NOTE: While having a social media presence can be helpful, you DON’T have to be on social media or be an extrovert in order to start a successful dog treat business.
Kristin shares 8 different ways to sell your homemade dog treats in her course, Diva Dog Bakery, so there’s something for everyone!
PRO TIP: Let your family and friends know about your new business to spread the word. If you belong to a Facebook group for your local neighborhood or community, you might be able to share your business there too.
2) Ask to leave business cards at pet groomers and vets
See if you can leave your business cards or a flyer at local pet groomers or vet offices.
Since potential customers may be visiting these establishments, it can be a great way to create brand awareness about your dog treats.
3) Volunteer to help at events
Check to see if there are any pet-themed events or expos happening in your area. This can be a great opportunity to provide free samples of your dog treats or you can bring some packaged ones to sell.
4) Take quality photos of your dog treats
If you want people to buy your dog treats, having high-quality photos is essential. Great photos of your product can help improve your branding, marketing, increase sales, and attract new customers.
While having a good quality camera can be helpful, it’s not necessary when you’re first starting.
To keep the costs low, start by practicing with your phone camera or any camera you have at home.
Below are some more tips on how to take quality photos of your dog treats:
- Pay attention to lighting – You want to make sure your light source is big and bright. Even natural lighting by a window can work well.
- Experiment with different angles – This can help you decide which angle makes your product look the most appealing.
- Include your dog – If you have a dog, why not include them in the shot. This can add a personal touch to your photos and tell a story.
Is there a class I can take to help me start my dog bakery business?
If you love dogs and you want to make extra money from home, starting a dog bakery business can be a great side hustle.
While starting a side business will require some work, it can be a lot of fun and rewarding in the long run.
If you’re ready to get a head start on your dog treat bakery, you may want to consider checking out Kristin’s course, Diva Dog Bakery™.
She’ll walk you through the entire process of starting and growing your very own dog treat business from your kitchen, including a developing a dog bakery business plan.
Whether your goal is to make an extra $500-$2,500 a month or build a 5-figure recurring revenue business, Kristin will teach you exactly what you need to know to break into this lucrative market.
Below you can click the image to watch a video and learn more about Diva Dog Bakery™ and how to start a dog treat business at home.
Don’t worry – there’s no previous baking experience needed. Kristin will teach you how to bake and package healthy and tasty dog treats from your kitchen.
She will even provide you with a recipe book sharing the exact same recipes that became best-sellers in her own business.
I can appreciate how investing in a course right now is a big decision. I mean, this course can certainly help you start a successful dog treat bakery, but perhaps you still have some questions.
For example, maybe you’re thinking, “This is something I would love…but since I have no experience, how can I just start a dog treat business?”
How do you go from knowing nothing about baking dog treats to acquiring new clients and making money?
In fact, many of Kristin’s students had the SAME thought as you before they joined Diva Dog Bakery.
Most online courses don’t teach the part where you actually go out into the real world and apply what you’ve learn.
This is what makes Kristin’s dog bakery course so valuable, because half the course is dedicated to helping you figure out where and how to successfully sell your treats.
You’ll also learn how to price your treats for maximum profit and how to actually promote your business the right way.
Kristin’s students are launching thier dog bakeries. Check out these success stories!
Below are some more recent student achievements:
- Randi sold $600 in porch pick-ups in the first few weeks after launching her bakery.
- Denice received over 150 orders for a Christmas treat package from a single Instagram post.
- Mariah received a $130+ order within two days of launching her bakery website.
- Elaina sold out halfway through her first farmers’ market.
What’s included in the Diva Dog Bakery course?
This is a self-paced course on how to start a dog treat business, so you can take as much time as you need to go through the course.
Once you enroll, you’ll have lifetime access to the course 24/7.
Most students are able to complete the course, practice baking dog treats, and launch their business from their kitchen in just a few weeks. Here’s what you’ll learn in Diva Dog Bakery:
Module 1: Practice Makes Perfect
Kristin shares her favorite homemade dog treat recipes and everything you’ll need to start your own business. She encourages you to start with tools you already have at home to keep the start-up costs low.
Module 2: Hobby to Business
Kristin will show you, step-by-step, how to formalize your dog treat business so you can legally sell your goodies.
While most of Kristin’s students are US based, there are also students from all over the world. People love their dog treats globally.
Module 3: Presentation is Everything
Kristin will show you how to make your dog treats look profressional (without hours of effort) and how to efficiently package, ship your treats, and use nutritional labels.
Module 4: How to Price Your Treats
This module breaks down the pricing structure so you know how much to charge for your treats and maximize your earning potential.
Module 5: Where to Sell
Kristin will show you how to sell your dog treats online or in person (or both). She shares proven strategies to easily get your dog bakery business up and running.
The course shares 8 different ways to sell dog treats so there is something for everyone.
Module 6: How to Accept Payment
This module will show you everything you need to know about accepting payments so you can smoothly run your business.
Module 7: Shipping and Delivery
Kristin shares her preferred shipping method and will show you exactly which items to include in your package.
Module 8: Promote Your Business
Kritisin will show you the BEST ways to promote your new dog treat business (for free).
If you’re ready to get started, click here to enroll in Diva Dog Bakery.
When you sign up for the course, you’ll also receive:
- Dog Treat Recipe Book / Video Tutorials ($99 value) – Kristin shares the exact recipes that became their best-sellers. Easy-to-follow directions that you can bake from scratch, even if you have no experience in the kitchen.
- 10+ Guaranteed Analysis / Nutrition Labels ($499 value) – Required by certain states in the U.S., Kristin provides you the exact information needed for several of our dog treats that will save you HUNDREDS of dollars in lab analysis fees.
- 30 Days FREE Access to Diva Dog Bakery Facebook Group ($19/month value) – You’ll receive support from the entire Diva Dog Bakery team and a community of your peers who will encourage you, provide feedback, offer advice and be your biggest cheerleaders.
- Helpful suggestions for buying ingredients, how to price your treats, shipping if you’re selling online, and how to make your business successful if you want to sell in-person or online.
Most students have ZERO baking experience, so it’s easy to get started. Below are some of the yummy dog treats that her students have made after taking her course.
By using her personal experience of owning a successful dog bakery for several years and the current trends, Kristin can help you start a thriving and profitable dog treat bakery from home.
Don’t just take my word for it though. Check out some Diva Dog Bakery reviews below.
How much does Diva Dog Bakery course cost?
The dog bakery course costs $299, which is a one-time investment that gives you instant 24/7 lifetime access to the course material.
As you can see from previous students who launched their dog bakery side hustle, many of them made enough money in their first month to earn a return on their investment after enrolling in the course.
$299 might seem like a lot of money to spend on a course. But your earning potential is unlimited.
Whether you want to make an extra $500 a month or scale to $10,000+ a month with your dog treat business, you can do it.
You can do this alone, or you can fast-track your success by learning from someone who knows exactly how to launch and grow a profitable dog treat bakery from scratch. Think of this as an investment in your future, for your career, and your family.
Plus, when you enroll in Diva Dog Bakery, you’ll get access to their supportive Facebook community where you can ask questions and get feedback from Kristin and your fellow peers.
This can help you get inspiration for your logo design, ideas for packing your treats, how to source ingredients, how to take better photos of your treats, and so much more!
Ready to get started? Check out Kristin’s free workshop (details below). This workshop can help you decide if starting a dog treat bakery is right for you.
Free Dog Treat Bakery Training
Kristin has put together a free workshop, How to Start a Dog Treat Bakery in 3 Easy Steps. In this training, you’ll learn:
- Popular dog treats that you can easily make and sell from your own kitchen
- Where to sell your dog treats
- How much to charge for your dog treats to earn maximum profit
- Helpful case studies from other successful students
- What you need to start your own business
Her workshop is completely free to join. Just enter your name and email to sign up here.
How to start a dog treat business FAQs
Yes! Starting a dog bakery business at home can be a profitable side hustle for the right clientele. You can make money selling homemade pet treats on Etsy, at your local farmer’s market, or run it entirely as a home-based business.
Yes, you’ll need a business license to sell homemade dog treats in most states. To sell dog treats online or at local farmer’s markets, you’ll need to follow the state’s requirements. Check with your local Chamber of Commerce can help you figure out if you need to obtain a dog treat business license or permit.
Farmer’s markets, craft fairs, and expo’s are a few of the best ways to make a lot of money selling dog treats. You can make up to $2,000 per event.
The best way to package your homemade dog treats is to put them in paper or plastic bags. Plastic is more popular because it allows customers to see the treats. Make sure to choose polyethylene plastic since it’s more breathable than polypropylene bags.
No, you don’t need a commercial kitchen to make dog treats. You can make dog treats at home in a residence kitchen and sell them online or at local farmer’s markets and craft fairs.
In most states, you are required to have a business license to sell your dog treats. Once your business is approved, then you sell your pet treats both online or in person.
No, there’s no requirement for your dog treats to be approved by the FDA. You just have to make sure they are safe to eat, made under sanitary conditions, and be truthfully labeled.
Starting any type of business will require some work, but dog treats are in high demand. Many pet owners are looking to buy homemade and quality dog treats. This can be a great side hustle opportunity!
