How to open a Pet Shop?

We are wanting to open a pet shop in are area.
Are there any type of requirments needed or license needed for opening a pet shop? we are just wanting to sell small animals like reptiles(leopard geckos, anoles, frogs, ect.) Fish, rodents (mice, hamsters, gerbils, rats) and some birds, like parakeets and finches.
and some pet supplies. no pups or kittys. we are in missouri if that helps any...
Please help us out! cant find much on internet!
Answers:
Well for one thing, you should have a thorough understanding of business management and the procedures of creating a startup under your belt.

You will have to talk with your local city hall about acquiring a business license. You should also be able to obtain zoning information about where you can possibly set the store up, the legal requirements involved and what you will have to go through.

Also contact your local humane society and shelters to find out what kinds of requirements are involved for owning and maintaining a pet shop in a humane way.

Make sure that if you do buy from breeders, that they are thoroughly licensed, have papers, test their animals for problems and provide veterinary care before selling them.

Have good connections with local veterinarians, since you will have to ensure that the animals are well kept and provided for.

You may want to try working with local sanctuaries and shelters in order to adopt out pets instead of buying them as well.

One last thing:

Try to have a thorough understanding of each of the animals' care, habitats, behavioral characteristics and personal health problems.

You will need to have a good understanding of animal behavior or ethology, restraint and handling and overall knowledge of the subject.

Check out your local college or university to see if they have any animal care, or management programs available.

Hope this helps.

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I don't have a direct answer but I will say this..

The best thing to do when starting pretty much any business is to try and get a job working for someone else in the same field. You will eliminate a lot of mistakes and get paid to learn. You might also find out it's not what you wanted to do after all and that way you won't be out any money.

If you can't go to work for another company then do at least one year of research before you sink any money into it. Anything worth doing with worth doing right. Have patience.

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well, the first step would be to ask your local business license center (normally found at your local government office) about the requirements needed for your type of shop. I think you can show them your proposal for your business, like were are you planning to open the business, the total cost and profit it might make so they can check how much they are going to charge. This will be easier if you go in person to your city government or go on-line if they have a web page.
Since I don't know in which county you live, here is a link to the Missouri's state business portal
http://www.business.mo.gov/
You might be able to contact them and ask more questions or might be able to direct you to the right person.
Also, check the American Veterinary Medical Association page to check the guidelines of proper animal handling and care, you might also find info on how to open your shop
http://www.avma.org/default.asp...
Good luck opening your business!

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the best advice I can give you .DON'T OPEN A PET SHOP!!!
work for another shop for at least 2 years and then CAREFULLY CONSIDER YOUR OPTIONS.
I was in the business for over 30 years as an owner,lots of hard work and heartache,its a 24/7 job and the idiot customers will drive you crazy. I f you want to work with animals try these options.
professional pet groomer
bird handler,reptile supplier,doggie day care,
rescue operation for a certain breed or animal.
really think this one through before you leap in.
best of luck !!!
NOCD

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are you going to build the store, or rent out space??? if you are going to build you need to get permits and such from your city... if youplan on renting out space at like a mall or plaza, you will need to talk to the owner of the place to see what he will allow you to have there. some places wont let you sell certain things... your local city hall will tell you every permit or lisence you will need to open up shop where you live so just call or stop in there and ask them..
if you plan on selling animals you might want to talk to the DEC to see what types of animals you are allowed to sell in your state.some types of reptiles and fish are illegal, and you dont want to lose your business liscence from a careless errror..
you should look around for used gondolas and shelving from stores in your area that have extra or from stores that have recently closed down. you are going to need to do a search on some distributors that can supply you with pet products. (penn plax, pet net, royal, phillips, fedko, etc.) you are obviously going to need adequate tanks and cages for your animals and you are going to have to make sure they are all taken care of properly because a lot of people will call the spca on you if they think the animals are living in bad conditions or not being taken cared of.