Do you want to learn how to start a dog treat business? This is what my friend Kristin 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? Today I’m sharing 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 dog treats (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.
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, vet 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. You can 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.
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
• 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 her course, Diva Dog Bakery.
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. If you’re not already a member, you can join Swagbucks for free here. 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.
✓ 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 $1,000 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 can 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 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. 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 elling 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 bakery from home, she now helps other aspiring entrepreneurs learn how to earn up to $1,000 per month selling homemade dog treats. You can sign up for free here.
Diva Dog Bakery Course + Conference
If you’re ready to start your dog treat business, consider attending the first Diva Dog Bakery in-person conference happening in Nashville, TN on September 22, 2022.
At this special one-day event, there will be speakers and hands-on training. Tickets are limited as this will be a smaller event and a great way to meet your fellow students.
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. 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.
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, including a developing a dog bakery business plan.
Whether your goal is to make an extra $1,000 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. She will even provide you with a recipe book sharing the exact same recipes that became best-sellers in her own business.
Diva Dog Bakery Course + Conference
If you’re ready to start your dog treat business, consider attending the first Diva Dog Bakery in-person conference happening in Nashville, TN on September 22, 2022.
At this special one-day event, there will be speakers and hands-on training. Tickets are limited as this will be a smaller event and a great way to meet your fellow students.
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 at-home business 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 and ship your treats.
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:
- A BONUS recipe book with Kristin’s recipes that you can use to bake and sell your treats
- Nutritional analysis on several different treats. (This lets your customers know nurtritional information and ingredients)
- Access to Kristin’s Diva Dog Bakery Community for FREE for 30 days
- Helpful suggestions for buying ingredients, how to price your treats, shipping if you’re selling online, and how to make your business success if you want to sell in-person or online.
- Baking videos, easy tutorials and kitchen office hours (available in the Diva Dog Bakery Community)
- Actionable course material that is broken down into easy-to-follow sections (with a lifetime of FREE updates)
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 of her student’s success stories below.
Ready to get started? Check out Kristin’s free workshop (details below).
Free Dog Treat Bakery Training
Kristin has put together a free workshop where she’ll share:
• Information about herself, so you can get to know your teacher.
• How to make $500-$1,000+ per month from your dog treat business as a beginner
• How to price and sell your dog treats. Don’t guess — Kristin will help you figure out how much you should charge for homemade dog treats.
• Learn about the best places to start a home-based dog treat bakery – online or in-person (or both)!
Her workshop is completely free to join. You can 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.
