What would you consider the "basics" to open a pet shop?

Knowledge of the products you carry and the pets they are for.

High quality products. This includes dog and cat food, as well as small animal and bird supplies.

You will need money. Enough to cover the costs of inventory, staff and your location.

You will need a location that has enough space for storage and to display your products.

You should not carry any pets. You will not be able to find pets for reputable breeders who will sell to a pet store. The costs of maintaining the animals will be more than you will be able to sell them for. You could work with a local rescue and have them come on the weekend to bring some animals for adoption.

If you have enough money to lease the space, buy fixtures, pay utilities with a hefty deposit down, buy pets, pet toys, pet foods, etc. to sell, and pay employees, ... sure, why not? If you don't have a spare hundred thousand dollars or so to invest in your business to get it off the ground, then you will need a business loan. It is much easier to convince banks to lend you money to start a business if you have some way to show them that you have a good chance of succeeding -- usually through track record of success or other experience, and/or education useful to your work.

Money.

A suitable building

fixtures like cages and shelves

stock

animals (if you're going to sell animals)

You will also need the appropriate licensing and insurance. I'm sure there's a pet shop license you need, and you need public liability insurance and insurance to cover your staff. You will also need to meet health and safety and animal welfare regulations.

Experience in all the animals you intend to sell.

A business plan.

An economy thats not in recession...now is probably not the best time to start.

Space, knowledge, animals, animal supplies, animal books and information on how to take care of a pet and which pet is the right pet.

1. money

2. pets

3. a license

4. more money

5. good pet experience

5. a lot of money

6. a building for the shop

7. pet supplies

8. more money

9. people who know you (so they can spread the word for donations)!

10. and last but not least..........MORE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!WHOOOOAAAA

money..

I opened my own pet SUPPLY store a few years ago (I refused to sell animals because of ethical reasons - not wanting to support mills)...

money is the biggest thing.. or do you mean what do you need to sell?

food!!!!.. litter.. things that people will come back for again and again - sell good food - not crap.

hopefully you won't actually carry pets. only pet supplies should be sold at pet shops. you'll wind up supporting puppy mills.

money and space.

if you meant products -

pet food

pet toys

and pet houses (huts etc)

pets

love for the animals...then good space, money, food..good care, etc.