Ever thought about baking for dogs and making thousands of dollars a month? Well, meet Kristin Larsen, the founder of Diva Dog Bakery who went from not knowing how to bake at all to earning up to $4,000 per month selling adorable, wholesome dog treats. And the best part? She did it all without any fancy experience or a big budget!
Kristin’s story is so fun and inspiring, you’ll probably want to preheat your oven by the time you’re done reading. So grab a snack (human or dog-friendly), and let’s jump into this paw-some success story!
From Interior Design to Doggy Cupcakes
A little over 10 years ago, Kristin was working a 9-to-5 job as an interior architect and designer. At the time, she was also the proud dog mom to Bella, a sweet, high-maintenance pup who loved to be pampered.
When Bella’s birthday rolled around, Kristin wanted to get her something special. But after browsing her local pet store’s aisles and only finding treats with questionable ingredients (you know, the ones with names you can’t pronounce), she decided to try something different.
Kristin thought, “Why not bake my own dog treat?” Even though she had ZERO baking experience, she was determined to give Bella the diva-worthy cupcake she deserved.
So what did she do? She marched to Target, bought a mini cupcake tin, researched dog-safe ingredients, and got to work in her kitchen. After some trial and error (and staring awkwardly at human cupcakes for inspiration), she baked her very first dog cupcake.
And Bella? She LOVED it.
Kristin quickly became obsessed with creating dog-friendly treats that were beautiful, healthy, and safe to eat. Soon enough, she was gifting her homemade treats to friends and family. That’s when things started to take off.
“Kristin, our dogs LOVED your treats. Can we buy some?”
It was at that moment Diva Dog Bakery was born!
A Passion converted to a $4,000/Month Business
At first, Kristin thought of her dog treats as just a fun hobby. She was making an extra $100 to $200 a month just from word-of-mouth sales. But then, life threw her a curveball.
Kristin lost her 9-to-5 job during the Great Recession and couldn’t find work anywhere. Her unemployment checks weren’t enough to survive, and her savings were disappearing fast. That’s when she realized: “Why not turn this side hustle into my full-time gig?”
She hustled HARD. Kristin started selling at farmers markets, launched an Etsy shop, and even secured wholesale orders with local businesses. Within a few months, Diva Dog Bakery was earning $3,000 to $4,000 a month.
All of this during one of the toughest economies in recent history. Talk about impressive!
Why Dog Treats? The Market is BOOMING
Kristin started Diva Dog Bakery over 10 years ago, back when dog cupcakes were still considered “weird.” But now? The pet industry is MASSIVE, and people are more than happy to spoil their furry friends.
Here are some wild stats:
- The dog treat market did nearly $7 billion in sales in 2020 alone.
- Over 60% of dog owners care deeply about the safety and quality of the treats they buy.
- Homemade, wholesome treats with simple ingredients are in HUGE demand.
In other words, there’s never been a better time to bake for dogs and get paid for it.
How to Start a Dog Treat Bakery
If Kristin’s story has you ready to whip up some peanut butter dog cookies, here’s the good news: Starting a dog treat bakery is super beginner-friendly.
Kristin shared that you can start small, with basic tools and ingredients from your kitchen. Here’s what you need to know:
- Startup Costs: Less than $200!
- Ingredients & baking tools: $20-$50
- Packaging: $0-$75
- Business license: $25-$50
- State registration: $25-$50 (varies by location)
- Where to Sell:
- Farmers markets
- Etsy shop
- Social media (local or nationwide sales!)
- Wholesale to pet stores, vet offices, or gift shops
With such low costs and high-profit margins, it’s no surprise this business can bring in $500 to $1,000 a month as a hobby or scale up to $5,000+ a month as a full-time gig.
Lessons Learned & Kristin’s Advice
Kristin’s biggest lesson? There’s a market for just about anything – you just have to find it.
Her journey started with one phone call: “Can I buy a bag of your treats?” From there, she realized she had something valuable to offer and ran with it.
If you want to start your own dog treat bakery, Kristin recommends:
- Practice baking first: Start simple and test your recipes on dogs you know (they’re honest critics!).
- Focus on presentation: Beautifully packaged treats = higher prices.
- Don’t overthink it: Start small, and grow from there. You don’t need to be perfect to get started!
And if you need more help, Kristin even offers a Diva Dog Bakery Course that covers everything from recipes to marketing to packaging. She’s also hosting a free dog treat bakery workshop for anyone ready to get started!
Suggested Resources for Future Dog Treat Bakers
Here are some books and tools Kristin recommends for aspiring dog treat bakers:
- The Honest Kitchen Cookbook – A fantastic resource for healthy, dog-safe recipes.
- The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber – A must-read for anyone starting a small business.
- Canva – Design beautiful treat labels and marketing materials for free.
- Etsy Success Guide – Learn how to launch and grow your Etsy shop.
Final Thoughts: Why Not Bake for Dogs?
Kristin’s story is proof that you can turn a simple idea into a thriving business with a little creativity and a lot of hustle. Whether you’re looking for a fun side hustle or a full-time career, a dog treat bakery might just be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.
After all, dogs make the cutest customers!
Want to learn more? Check out Kristin’s free dog treat bakery workshop and start your own paw-some business today!
