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We are dog owners considering relocation to Costa Rica. I also currently own a dog business based in the United States focused on dog supplies and dog-friendly travel. I’m wondering if anyone would be willing to share from where you currently purchase supplies for your pets in Costa Rica – from food to leashes, treats, toys, etc.? Perhaps everyone simply brings supplies back from the US? Are items easy to get? Reasonably-priced? If you could have one service/product in CR for your dog/cat what would it be? Thanks for your feedback!
Seems to me that there are lots of pet shops and they have all the stuff that you can get in America. The prices are reasonable. The only thing I can’t get is grooming.
I’ve been in several pet stores and they seem to have everything one needs except for organic pet food. They have a lot of supposedly high-end brands like IAMS and Science Diet, I think — but nothing I would feed my dog. I guess I will bring as much of the brand I use as I can when I move down there. For the most part, I cook for my dog, so he only get the kibble as a side dish. So if I could wish for one thing it would be the Wellness or Timberwolf brand.
It’s good to try and do as much homework as possible before you get here and I am hoping that you will also be getting legal advice on how to operate a business here too…
Please bear in mind that labor costs here will be much cheaper than what you are accustomed so you will have a great deal of trouble making any money in the ‘service’ end of dog care and pet products. Most Ticos can only dream of earning the US minimum wage.
If I was to explore this idea further, I think I would offer something more ‘digital’ like a website that offers ‘custom made’ leather dog collars (TICOLLARS?) and other ‘luxury’ (but light) pet items.
If it was merely an internet business, your overall legal/tax and bureacratic ‘red tape’ problems would also be minimised. It’s when you start having a physical office, store, warehouse and any staff that life becomes very much more complicated.
In this way you are not limiting your market to Costa Rica – it’s the entire world.
Transportation costs of many products would make the business cost prohibitive but you can find many people that would be able to help you manufacture these leather items for a very low price and the shipping costs for these types of items would not be expensive.
Scott
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