Startup cost
$2k–$10k
TRUiC Business Ideas
How to Start a Pet Portraits Business
Decision Snapshot
Pet Portraits
Idea Score
65
Profit margin
21%
Break-even
4 mo–12 mo
Time to launch
12 wk–36 wk
Demand trend
Stable
5-yr failure rate
—
Capital intensity
Medium
Time commitment
Part time
Part 1 - How to start a Pet Portraits business - Background
People love their pets, and many pet owners want to memorialize their non-human friends through artwork. Pet portraits businesses create custom portraits of pets for customers. Many businesses are run by a single artist, but businesses can also have several artists on staff. The mediums these artists create offer a different feel than photographs — which pet owners can take themselves — provide.
Our guide is in 3 parts:
- Part 1 - How to start a Pet Portraits business - Background
- Part 2 - Our planner tool to see if this idea is the right fit for you
- Part 3 - Action plan to get started
What are the costs involved in opening a pet portraits business?
The startup costs for a pet portraits business are quite low and manageable. Business owners need a website. Having a high-quality website designed and built typically costs between $2,000 and $10,000, but business owners can minimize this expense by using a platform that lets them create their own site.
Business owners also need to purchase art supplies :
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Pencils: $10
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Paints: $40
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Paintbrushes: $15
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Canvas: $12-100 per piece
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Paper: $20 per book
These expenses can be paid for after payment has been received from customers, though. It’s common to charge a deposit, which can be used to purchase art supplies. It’s also standard to have customers pay in full before shipping a finished piece, and any shipping costs can be built into a customer’s final bill.
Most people who get into this line of work already have a space to work on pieces, so finding studio space usually isn’t a concern.
What are the ongoing expenses for a pet portraits business?
The main ongoing expenses for a pet portrait business include website maintenance and hosting costs, which are typically just a few dollars a month, and art supply and shipping costs. As mentioned, art supply and shipping fees can be built into customers’ payments, making the ongoing expenses extremely low.
Who is the target market?
A pet portraits business’ ideal customer is a pet owner who loves their non-human friend and has a decent amount of discretionary income. Such a person may be interested in having a portrait of their pet made, and they have enough money to afford a portrait.
How does a pet portraits business make money?
A pet portraits business makes money by selling custom portraits of people’s pets. How much portraits cost usually depends on a portrait’s medium, style and size, as well as the number of animals included in the work. For example, Melanie & Nicholas have a detailed fee schedule that takes into account the following: whether a work is done with pencil or oil, how large it is, how many animals are in the work, and whether the work includes an animal’s head or full body.
How much can you charge customers?
How much customers pay for pet portraits varies a lot. Splendid Beast offers paintings starting at $99, while Melanie & Nicholas charge over $9,500 for a large oil portrait.
How much profit can a pet portraits business make?
Until an artist is established, a pet portraits business’ income may be inconsistent. Once a business is established, though, it can bring in a handsome annual revenue. If Melanie & Nicholas each worked on large oil paintings, they could complete about 12 each year. (It takes about 8 weeks for them to complete a portrait.) At over $9,500 each, that’s an annual revenue of around $114,000.
How can you make your business more profitable?
A pet portraits business can increase its revenue by doing commission work for non-profit societies and veterinarian offices. Human societies, ASPCA organizations, and vets may want murals painted in their facilities.
Day-to-Day and Growth
What happens during a typical day at a pet portraits business?
According to Art Dog Blog, new pet portraits business owners should spend at least half their time marketing their business. This includes pursuing both national marketing campaigns and connecting with local animal-loving associations.
When not marketing their business, business owners spend most of their time working on portraits. Creating a quality piece of artwork that accurately reflects a pet takes a lot of time. For Tom and Ben of Splendid Beast, making a pet portrait takes about 8 weeks.
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful pet portraits business?
In order to open a pet portraits business, business owners must be able to create artistic portraits. Aspiring business owners who don’t have an artistic background ought to take at least one art class, if not several. Local community colleges and vocational training programs frequently offer drawing and painting classes. There are also many online art courses, such as those offered by Artists Network University, MoMA and the Academy of Art University.
What is the growth potential for a pet portraits business?
A pet portraits business can be as small or large as a business owner wants it to be. Businesses that grow usually do so through marketing channels, rather than by opening galleries or retail locations MyPoochFace is an example of larger company that has hundreds of customers.
What are some insider tips for jump starting a pet portraits business?
Most pet portraits businesses are run primarily online, and there are several reasons for this. Opening a business online:
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is easy, because photos can be uploaded by customers and then used to base portraits on
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gives business owners access to customers all over the world, rather than in just their local area
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keeps startup and ongoing expenses low, since businesses don’t have to maintain a physical gallery
How and when to build a team
Many pet portraits businesses remain one- or two-person operations. For instance, Melanie & Nicholas are two artists who work together, as are Splendid Beast’s Tom and Ben. Business owners who hire additional artists usually do so only after they have more orders than they can complete. When artists are hired, it’s often on a contract basis as orders come in, rather than as an hourly employee.
Part 2 - Is a Pet Portraits business the right fit for you?
Business Evaluation & Strategy Tool
We'll walk you through the four pillars every business needs: Points of Leverage, Marketing Strategy, Financial Model, and Personal Compatibility. At the end you'll see a personalized report and your action plan below will be tailored to your answers.
Step 1 of 4 — Points of Leverage
Every viable business has natural advantages. Below are common leverage points across four categories. Pick the ones that apply to your Pet Portraits business. We've pre-suggested a few based on your idea — review and adjust.
Step 2 of 4 — Marketing Strategy
Without a way to connect with customers, even great businesses fail. Pick the channels you plan to use to reach your customers.
Step 3 of 4 — Financial Model
Enter your monthly baseline costs — the minimum overhead to keep the business running. Then we'll calculate how many sales per month you need to break even.
Step 4 of 4 — Personal Compatibility
A business that doesn't fit your life will fail no matter how good the numbers look. Tell us how this business fits you.
Your Pet Portraits Evaluation Report
Complete the four pillars and your personalized summary will appear here.
Points of Leverage
Marketing Strategy
Financial Model
Personal Compatibility
Part 3 - Action plan to launch your Pet Portraits business in 90 days
Nine concrete steps to take you from idea to open business, grouped into 30-day phases. Complete the planner above and we'll highlight what's most important for your situation.
First 30 days — Foundation
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Form your legal entity
An LLC keeps your personal assets separate from business debts and lawsuits — the most common reason small business owners choose this structure. Sole proprietorships and partnerships do not provide this protection.
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Get an EIN and register for taxes
Apply for your free Employer Identification Number through the IRS, then register for any state or local taxes that apply to your business (sales tax, franchise tax).
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Open a business bank account and credit card
A dedicated business account is required to maintain personal asset protection. Mixing personal and business finances ('piercing the corporate veil') can void your LLC's liability shield.
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Set up business accounting
Recording expenses and income from day one makes tax filing easier and lets you see when the business is actually profitable. Use software (QuickBooks, Wave) or a part-time bookkeeper.
Days 30–60 — Compliance & Risk
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Get permits and licenses
State and local requirements vary widely. Brick-and-mortar businesses typically need a Certificate of Occupancy; service businesses may need specific professional licensing; food businesses need health permits.
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Get business insurance
General Liability Insurance is the most common starting point. If you'll have employees, most states require Workers' Compensation. Specific industries need additional coverage (product liability, professional liability, etc.).
Days 60–90 — Launch
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Define your brand
Your brand is how customers perceive and remember you. A clear name, logo, and visual identity make every later marketing decision easier and protect you legally as you grow.
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Create your business website
Every legitimate business needs a website. Social media pages are not a substitute — you don't own the platform. Modern website builders mean you can launch a clean site in a weekend without a developer.
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Set up your business phone system
A dedicated business number keeps your personal life private, makes the business look legitimate, and lets you route calls professionally. Cloud phone services start under $20/month.