Wholesalers License in California/COral farm, plz help

[newreefman1]

Hey gang,

Getting closer and closer to the reality of a coral farm. Im working on the financing and toying with the idea of some private investments with the return being in trade for corals. Imagine free frags every month for a year etc.
Anyways, Im curious if anyone knows how I go about getting a wholesalers license in california, the cost involved, the time period wait, and the difficulty would all be great information.
Im not worried about a retailers license till it all gets going and running, but a wholesalers license would be great to stock the refugiums and such with a live sand bed, and premium live rock from the LA wholesalers.
Also, if anyone knows the locations and names of the wholesalers so when I get my license and get setup, I have a clue where I can go that would be most helpful too.

Thanks for your help in advance.
You can email me too at
[email protected]

thanks all

 

[HARRISON]

Drop me an e-mail if you get a chance. I am curious about what your proposing. I still have too much to learn to attempt anything bigger than personal tanks right now, but I might be persuaded to invest in the right plan. Might even be willing to give you a hand.

 

[danmhippo]

Call your CPA to set it up for you. I believe its the Board of Equalization. Their official URL is www.boe.ca.gov, Here is a link to their Seller's permit registration site

Do it yourself may save you some $$, But, let your CPA to do your paperworks from the beginning. You will need that in the future.

Have you setup a corporation yet? Do so first to protect against your personal assets. Again, most CPA will do that for you too.

 

[newreefman1]

I have been looking at setting it up as a LLC although at first, I don't see reason to as it wont be making a profit immediately as it takes time to grow. My father is a laywer and lives within 30 mins of me and offered to set it up for me.
As far as the permits go, Ill probably set it up myself. I appreciate the links.

Do you have a coral farm or store?

Jason.

 

[newreefman1]

That website is helpful althogh Im curious if the wholesalers in LA go by that permit or if there is something else special for ornamental/live corals and fish.
Do you know if this would cover all I would need for the purchase of live stock in LA to be resold?

Thanks alot.

Jason

 

[bsme]

Most of the big LA wholesalers/distributors will normally ask for your CA Sellers Permit and a copy of your business license. Some ask for info on your product(s), location, and a list of references. They do not want to compete with the retail shops by selling directly to the hobbyist. It would be worth your while to obtain the sellers permit AND business license to show that you are legitimate. Obtaining a sellers permit takes about 20 minutes (go to your local State Board of Equalization Office) and fill out the application. They usually grant an interview while you are there. Be prepared to provide the same kind of info (about your business) to the State Board of Equalization.

 

[newreefman1]

Right. Already obtained the applications from the BOE thanks to the posts above and found out through the clerks office how to obtain a business liscence.
At first, I am filing as a sole proprietor possibly then taking it to be an LLC. For now, filing solely allows me to get a wholesalers permit and a sellers permit which should be all the necessary paperwork that I would need to obtain(and a county businses license).Not as difficult as I thought. The permits are free(except the bus. license) and takes 1hr- 2 hrs and is literally within 1/2 from my home. NEAT!.

now I just have to find the names of the wholesalers in LA that I would deal with. I know none of em.
J

 

[danmhippo]

Whether the business is profitable or not, pretty soon, you will have to buy more equipments to expand and got bills to pay-off. Some of your equipment you may want to find a lease company to help you spread the cost over several years. However profitable the business may be, you want to have some protection. By setting up the company as anything other than sole or partnership, you have limited your own liabilities. I hate to have my business associated with my personal assets. I strongly suggest against setting it up as a sole-proprietorship. Even LLC could offer more protection against your personal assets.

Just my opinion.

Good luck with your business. Keep us updated.

 

[newreefman1]

email sent

 

[HARRISON]

Jason,

Your e-mail never made it here...

 

[Chucker]

Solicitation for investment = commercial post. Thread closed.

 

[newreefman1]

Agreed with the LLC. IN a lengthy discussion with my laywer(also my father) we decided LLC was enough release of liability and keep the seperation of my personal funds and business funds.
As far as equipment costs go, I have not really thought about leasing the equipment but would prefer to start as a "cash" business and not take on any debt, even a lease. I have a limited amount of size. I am taking it to the limit in size from the beginning and will have a custom calc reactor made for that size(roughly 1000 gallons by my design last evening) and a large protein skimmer(possibly ...but intend on a large refugium as well which might export enough nutrients on its own) and a chiller. Im working on finding a nice size main pump and finalizing my decisions on material to make the "lagoon type" setups. Im also still working on which lighting and what species in each.
Right now, I am thinking of
2 SPS tanks
1 mushroom/leather prop tank
1 clam lagoon(may become a LPS tank need more research)
there also is room for a 3'X6' refugium which would be a large amphipod/copepod breeding area and also a place to grow various forms of caulerpa(the pond would have baffles and seperate the variety of caulerpas).
There is still a ton of work to be done with this plan but its moving rather quickly. I have had alot of time recently so I am able to work on sketches and the plans all day

I really cant sleep. I keep thinking of ways to do it differently or better or both

Jason.