Pet and Pet Supplies Stores Revenue Benchmarks
The average pet and pet supplies stores business in the United States generates $4.6M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 5,129 pet and pet supplies stores businesses in the U.S., employing 115,234 workers with an average profit margin of 4.0%.
What Does a Pet and Pet Supplies Stores Business Actually Do?
Retail stores selling pet food, accessories, toys, and often live animals (fish, small mammals, reptiles). Larger stores (PetSmart, Petco) also offer grooming, boarding, and vet services in-store.
Who buys: Pet owners on recurring food purchases, plus impulse and gift buyers.
Average Revenue
$4.6M
per year
Profit Margin
4.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$203K
per year
Total Businesses
5,129
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$183K
small business avg
Labor Cost
14.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
N/A
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
1.5
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Pet and Pet Supplies Stores Charge?
Pet stores earn on high-margin accessories and food subscriptions; live animals are typically loss-leader traffic drivers.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Pet food markup | 30–50% |
Pet accessories markup | 80–150% |
Grooming service (if offered) | $40–120 per session |
Live animal / aquarium markup | 50–200% |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete pet and pet supplies stores business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a pet and pet supplies stores business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the pet and pet supplies stores industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Cost of goods sold | $61 | $2.8M | Wholesale cost of merchandise purchased for resale. Retail's biggest expense. |
Wages & benefits | $14 | $639K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $8 | $374K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $187K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $8 | $374K | Utilities, POS fees, shrinkage, insurance, store maintenance. |
Net profit | $4 | $183K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
15.2%
openings/year
Closure Rate
8.63%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+5.55%
annual
Businesses Closed
3,694
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Pet and Pet Supplies Stores Business?
Startup Cost
$75K – $400K
Break-Even
16 months
5-Year Survival Rate
48.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a pet and pet supplies stores business do?
- Retail stores selling pet food, accessories, toys, and often live animals (fish, small mammals, reptiles). Larger stores (PetSmart, Petco) also offer grooming, boarding, and vet services in-store. Pet owners on recurring food purchases, plus impulse and gift buyers.
- How much do pet and pet supplies stores charge?
- Pet stores earn on high-margin accessories and food subscriptions; live animals are typically loss-leader traffic drivers. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average pet and pet supplies stores make per year?
- The average pet and pet supplies stores business generates $4.6M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $183K per year at a 4.0% profit margin.
- How many pet and pet supplies stores businesses are there in the US?
- There are 5,129 pet and pet supplies stores businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 115,234 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a pet and pet supplies stores business?
- Startup costs for a pet and pet supplies stores business typically range from $75K to $400K, with a 5-year survival rate of 48.0%.
Industry Growth & Survival
The pet and pet supplies stores industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 5.5% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (15.2% entry vs 8.6% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 64% of pet and pet supplies stores businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 3,694 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The pet and pet supplies stores industry has grown 33% since 2000 (from 31,431 to 41,798 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Pet and Pet Supplies Stores revenue with other industries: