In our 2025 Nov-Dec Big Survey issue, we shared answers to the question: “What has been the single biggest investment you’ve made in your business?” We had many more responses than room to print in the magazine. Here are highlights that you can relate to or that just may inspire you to start spending more yourself. Per usual, participants in our Big Survey provide their answers anonymously.
- “A virtual assistant. Her salary pays for my time away from the business, so well worth it! Before this position, I was spending more time working on the business and had little time for me. I now have time to spend as I want.”
- “Parking lot: $50,000.”
- “Box truck to pick up our supplies from a warehouse. We are on an island that distributors don’t deliver to. It has made logistics much easier.”
- “Advertising company: $5,000 a month, plus ad spends, marginal ROI.”
- “Mobile treat truck: $70,000.”
- “Geo-targeted advertising and analytics. It’s a substantial cost, but has provided valuable insight and targeted marketing.”
- “A tech management company. There is a maintenance fee as well as fees for crisis management. However, nothing beats being able to text them and have an issue resolved almost immediately.”
- “This year, a new heating system: $40K.”
- “Our Brother Persona embroidery machine. We paid roughly $4,000 for it. We offer custom items, and items we sell can be customized.”
- “Redoing the outside of the building. It cost about $15,000. So far, all our customers think that it looks great.”
- “Playground equipment for the dogs. It was about $7,000 and provides more enrichment and fun for the dogs.”
- “A POS system.”
- “A new loading dock: $15,000. Not sure it was worth the money.”
- “We purchased new equipment and keep our tools in top shape (and replace when needed). Equipment was around $12,000, and tools were around $2,000. This has been a game changer for efficiency!”
- “Ice cream machine.”
- “Participating in a Mastermind program: $10,000 a year, plus travel three times a year.”
- “Insurance review, resulting in better coverage and service.”
- “Larger and better location. Cost was approximately $80,000 in renovations and double the monthly rent. Sales are up every year by over 20%, and there are so many more daily visitors. Priceless.”
- “Dog-wash stations, costing about $50,000. We use these stations to reach out to our community by doing many dog-wash fundraising events for local non-profits. We do about 20 per day at $15.99 per with a Frequent Buyer Program through Astro Loyalty: free wash after 10 washes. We use its popularity to invite customers to try the food brands that we carry.”
- “Our recent expansion. We invested in a ton of new inventory at once to fill an entire new space, retail displays, and a brand new stand up freezer. $5,000+. We quickly gained that money back and then some.”
- “A fellow pet retailer decided to close their doors, and I was able to negotiate with them for much needed new-to-me shelving and inventory. I spent $7k and received over $10k worth of shelving and merchandise.”
- “Brand-new grooming vans: $70,000+ after trade-in. The results are mixed. A lot of blood, sweat, tears and a few smiles.”
- “Bathing system for self was stations. Saved us tons on wasted shampoo.”
- “Hired a famous groomer to do personal training in our store. It has really helped our groomers.”
- “Building out our store, completely remodeling and adding services like a grooming salon. It was $250,000.”
- “Two new stores: $150,000+.”
- “A new work truck: $55,000.”
Read the investments we featured in our Nov-Dec Big Survey issue. One owner spent $230,000 on turf!
