Becoming an Entrepreneur
Starting a Cat Dealer
These tips are ideal for those of you who hope to start a cat dealer. Read this advice before you open up shop.
Wondering how to start a cat dealer? We take you step-by-step from start to success.
Best Practices for Writing a Cat Dealer Business Plan
Many new cat dealer owners feel unprepared for the challenge of writing a business plan.
Fortunately, you don't have to tackle your cat dealer's business plan by yourself. These days, there are tons of great resources and solutions available to support the business plan writing process.
For more information, take a look at our Business Plan Help section.
Review Competitors
Prior to opening a cat dealer in your town, it's a smart move to determine how you will fit in the competitive landscape. Use the link below to get a list of local competitors in your area. After clicking on the link, type in your city, state and zip code to get a list of cat dealerships near you.
Is the local market large enough to support another cat dealer? If not, you had better be sure that you are doing things much better than the competition.
Talk to People Who Are Already in the Business
If you want to open a cat dealer it's a wise move to talk to somebody who is already in the business. Local competitors are not going to give you the time of day, mind you. What's in it for them?
But, a person who owns a cat dealer in a different city can be a great learning resource for you, as long as they don't view you as a competitive threat. In fact, they are often very willing to share startup advice with you. If you are persistent, you can find a business mentor who is willing to help you out.
Where can you find an owner of a cat dealer who is willing to advise you because you live in different cities?
It's not that hard. Just use the handy link below and enter in a random city/state or zipcode.
Benefits & Drawbacks of a Cat Dealer Acquisition
An acquisition can be a great way to enter cat dealer ownership. But it's important to evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of buying a business before you decide on either an acquisition or startup approach.
PROs: Acquired cat dealerships should be profitable right out of the gate; they should also be capable of demonstrating a loyal customer base, brand identity and operational efficiencies.
DRAWBACKS: On the downside, cat dealer acquisitions can be difficult to adapt to your unique business philosophy so it's important to make sure the business is capable of achieving your ownership goals before you initiate the buying process.
Explore Franchising Options
Choosing to partner with a franchisor makes it a certainty that you tap into best-practice tactics that come from seasoned and successful entrepreneurs.
Before opening a cat dealer, a smart move is to check out whether franchising might alleviate your startup process.
The link below gives you access to our franchise directory so you can see if there's a franchise opportunity for you. You might even find something that points you in a completely different direction.
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