Want to start a pet store... a GOOD ONE!

[Anonymous]

No it won't work. You need two things to make it.

1) Lots of money
2)Lots of experience

You might could make it if you had lots and lots of money and only a little experience, or if you had lots and lots of experience, and the bare minimum anount of money. Unfortunately I'm getting the impression that you have neither.

 

[bb7551]

Ok, I said something wrong, I would like to make a Pet store, Live off the total income, I have ben keeping freshwater fish for about 7 years and salt for about 3, I didn't like the way the lfs has there pet shop, iering people who tell you that a hippo tang is a emporor angel (NO LIE) and telling the people that skinny fish is soposed to look that way. I have liked the idea of being my own boss. put the two together and there was the pet store. Sorry if I came across not so expericanced, but I was plaining on opening one in about 2 or so years. So I can finish up by business class and get some experiance actually in the pet store. I came to you to ask Qs that I had directly involving pets. the rest I hope to learn in the next two years. Sorry. John

 

[Anonymous]

Sure. I'm not saying you can't do it. I'm just saying that with the minimal experience you have, I wouldn't try it with only 50k. Take your business classes and work in a pet store for a few years. Then you'll be ready to get started.

 

[bb7551]

Will do. I also have something else to tell you and it will either make you mad or understand me and why I talk the way I do and all that stuff. I am fifteen years old, on july 21st I will be sixteen. SO by the time I am 18 I will be ready to start my business. After I do get my tuck(hopefully I will not need to much) I will have a year to start to save up for my business. I know this is 100% novice but what do you expect the total set up would be for a small pet shop business? Thanks. John

 

[flameangel1]

$30,000.00 profit ????????????????
You are dreaming big time there.
Try $3,000.00 if you are very lucky, in the first few years.

on this-

won't they stop coming in once they get everything set up, and running?

Yes, remember most hobbyists get their dry goods via the internet these days. And many get their livestock etc there also.
This is a very tough business, you do not go into it for the money, but for the love of the hobby and the people who care about the hobby.
Going into it for the money will simply not work, unless you are rich to begin with. (and I have seen people go under even then )

 

[bb7551]

3,000/year? How could I live on that? I would need a second job... I guess the first few years I will be living at my grandparents house mooching off of them huh? lol. or have a second job. 3,000 Well, I wonder how the people at the other pet shops live off of there store??? John

 

[Anonymous]

I know this is 100% novice but what do you expect the total set up would be for a small pet shop business? Thanks. John

Well I commend you for thinking ahead and planning. I would shoot for 300-400,000 to start. I got my first job at a pet store when I was 21 and eventually bought them out when I was 25. So the best advice I can give you is to get a job at a pet store and learn, and most importantly plan.

remember most hobbyists get their dry goods via the internet these days. And many get their livestock etc there also.
This is a very tough business, you do not go into it for the money, but for the love of the hobby and the people who care about the hobby.
Going into it for the money will simply not work, unless you are rich to begin with. (and I have seen people go under even then )

I really disagree here. The pet industry is a great business to be in these days, and I have some figures that may dispute your claim that the internet has all the business. And I don't see any reason why one can't go into it expecting to make some money. Sure it won't make you freakin rich, but it's not a bad living either. Just be sure to know your market, find a good location, and secure enough start up capital to merchandise appropriately.

 

[flameangel1]

Glenn,
My outlook here on owning your own business comes from not believing in borrowing money to start or run a business. Yes, most people do borrow, but even Donald Trump went under by doing that. Figures look good on paper, but tangible assets are safer, in my book.
Yes, even my banker says I will never get "big" by using the "cash on hand" method-LOL !!!

 

[bb7551]

ok 100% honest here... I will eventually make my own pet store, and will Kick (well you know what goes here)... anyway, I would like to buy out the one up, but will prolly cost me 300,000 for the small business it is. I am one that will go after what I want and will not give up. I will eat those 15 cent noodle packets for breakfast lunch and dinner to have what I want, despite the fact that I LOVE them. LOL. See I am already off to a good start. Also A hummer is not to far fetched, I just saw one in the paper for 32,000 used of corse, striped. LOL, I don't care I just like hummers ALOT. And toyota tecomas. I hope to get my grandmoms house when I get older so I can rent out the small house next to the mail house for some extra money, 400/month. Mabey 500 by then. We know we can get more, but they are family we rent to, so? That shoud cover the house taxes. and all that. Mabey I can renovate the basement to be a coral farming and LR farming unit? The LR is more likly to happen, sence it is minimal work with a dosing pump. add that income also. Will sell that on the net and ship some of that, I have shiped LR before with success. So am not scared to ship it. It is these little things increase the profit right? But I will make sure it is quality. John

 

[JennM]

3,000/year? How could I live on that? I would need a second job... I guess the first few years I will be living at my grandparents house mooching off of them huh? lol. or have a second job. 3,000 Well, I wonder how the people at the other pet shops live off of there store??? John

The answer to this one is to be married to somebody with a real job That's how I do it, my husband has a job that supports the family, and the store supports itself, barely. It's only a year old. Without his income, I couldn't do this at all. We budget carefully, and got a helping hand to get started, started on a shoestring and a prayer, and so far it's working - but I've worked in small and medium sized businesses my entire career (20 years), and spent the year before I opened, working for somebody else in the industry, and then I knew for sure this was what I wanted to do, and I learned how to do it. I knew I was getting into before I got into it, and I've seen many others jump in ill-informed.

Being one's own boss can be over-rated. It's now 11:00 PM and I just got home from work. That is a normal occurrance.

$30,000/yr ? That won't go far when you have a wife and kids, even if you all like Ramen noodles. However I'd be happy to pocket $3K right now... I'm not complaining, for a store in its infancy we're doing great.

Jenn

 

[bb7551]

Nope, no family, I will not get married or have kids, it is just not going to happen. So I am focused on supporting me. I hopefully will not have a house payment, and the rent from that small house will be enough to support the house and me. Also I have ben looking into snake mutations, and breeding. Such as a albino ball python can be bred to many females and get 100% poss hets, whitch go for about 300 bucks for the males, and about 900-1000 for females. Also for a visual male, or female it is 7500 bucks! And I heard the first albino piebalds for sale will go for approximatly 25,000-30,000 bucks! And it only takes about 60-100 dollars to produce those babys. that IS alot of mony, around here a ball python that expensive would not sell in a million years, but over the net... it is a different story. you know? My first love are still fish!! John

 

[Veng68]

Anyone want to hire me for a year or two? :wink: I need a break from accounting and would not mind the sabatical

John........ the most important thing in business is to understand "Cash flows" without proper cash flow management you'll be sunk in no time.

I have know 1 former aquarium owner (he retired) and another aquarium owner that is about to retire. They were both in business from the 60's and really worked hard to build their businesses. One major advantage they had was they also owned the local fish wholesaler (this was freshwater stuff) another advantage was they owned their own buildings.

There is a lot you have to learn. Like others have said, take some courses from the SBA, get a job at a LFS and go to college and take some courses in business (ie. accounting, Marketing etc.). You are young and it's going to take some work & life experience for you to get a loan for your dream venture.

Your examples of breeding snakes and other herps sounds good but you have to wonder....... if it's so easy to breed these $$$ herps......... why isn't everyone else doing it? Sure maybe they are rare now but when the competition comes in and the herp becomes more common........ the value of your herps will drop. When I was your age I remember the Discus craze that was going like wild fire........... $10000 for a snake skin discus............ that's easy they can have 300+ babies.........I could do that[not].

Maybe you can start small by breeding these herps to get your capital. Working out of your home and selling them could be a start for you. Working out of your home will allow for lower overheads (ie. less expenses). Also maybe start a coral fraggin business from your home. It will also give you some experience with how to run a business & how to deal with customers, be they retail stores or retail customers. Just a thought.

Not trying to squash your dreams but you have to be realistic. Many small businesses fail in the first 3-5 years of life.

ps. seriously......... anyone want to hire me :wink:

Cheers,
Victor "Veng68"

 

[bb7551]

:? Humh, I will have to think. I do know that reptiles will go down in price, but by the time I would get into breeding snakes leucictic and albino piebalds will be big. In about 4 years or so, regular albinos will be about 1,000 and piebalds will be about the same price, whitch I am OK with. The albinos and piebalds will start to show up in the pet shops around the country and will quickly lower in price, whitch again I am OK with. Just like albino burmese pythons, they are still 100-200 dollars more then the regular ones and it has ben about 15 years sence people payd like 2,000 dollars for a albino snake. I have ben looking at the market for both fish and snakes, and they have gone up sence a few years ago, and I will still look at the market untill I feel as if I am ready to start my business. I was thinking all night and I think that I know where that small LFS gets its mony, They take care of fish tanks once a month at businesses and homes across cumberland. They charge my aunt's workplace 70 dollars/month, for all profit. Because when they add fish, they charge extra for them also. This is another thing I want to explore, and see about how much of what is profit, I think they survice 15-20 tanks in the county for a grand total of about 150 dollars, whitch is an extra 1800/month. So there is over half the total profit. Alslo they overcharge for there products a little, so an extra, even 50 cents and they have like 10 or 15 People come in and if you figure they make 2 dollars profit on avarage for each one, that is 20-30 dollars each day + once a month they add fish to the tanks... Large fish, so the profit for them is about 4-5 dollars for each fish, at least. whitch, if my math is right, about 11,000 profit/year? take taxes out and you got yourself 9,000/year Right? I could easily do that all that? Sometimes I think I think to much LOL. Thanks! John

 

[JennM]

Nope, no family, I will not get married or have kids, it is just not going to happen.

Yep when I was 15 I said the same thing...... :lol: Famous last words...

Skip ahead 21 years... married for 14 years, with said husband for 19 years... 11 year old and 9 year old..... I met my husband when I was 17 - what a difference the years between 15-17 can make!

Many changes will happen to you, John, between now and when you fisish college. You will meet people, your interests will change, and so will your priorities. File these posts away on a CD somewhere and pull them up again in 10 years. You will smile fondly and remember what this "old fart" of 36 told you

Take your time. Start small - in your home as was stated above. You might find that this isn't your cup of tea - or you might find it's your life's passion. Don't rush, and don't risk any more time or money than you can afford to lose.

Good luck to you You've got ambition, and whatever you choose to do, that will take you far.

Jenn

 

[bb7551]

Well, theredically, I could start now, Because of the fact that I already make aquacultured LR, I would just have to make more... alot more. and get a few rubbermid stock tanks and hit the net. 3.25/lb plus shipping. Will give me about 2 dollars profit on each LB. Just need my business name, and would like to do almost all net business with a storefront. How much light would I need over the rubbermaid stock tanks? Would a 1000 watts/250 gallons be good? less? more? Tha is 4 watts/gallon? How long would it be before I could get rock out of the systems? 6 months? Would it be cool if I also carryd things like balasts after a little while? a 2 dollars profit per lb, a total of like 1.25 would actually be mine after taxes, and 75 cents after I reenvest in the business. So if I grow out 1000 lbs (100 lbs/day every three days or so) that would be 7500 dollars after taxes, and permits. I could actually nix the problem with the light by growing it out in the greenhouse. I could fit 6 of them in the GH with no problem. 4 for LR grow out and 2 for seeding the new LR. Plus if I do grow some corals in those system I will cut all kinds of mushrooms up and throw them in one system to grow mushroom rock, whitch I would charge 5 bucks/lb for, even more profit considering that mushrooms can be propegated in numbers with no problem. Now, you are probly rolling your eyes at me, but what do you think? remember, I would start small (with one rubbermaid 250 gallon stock with 300 lb of rock plus or minus a few llbs. and one basin to make the rock in. and another, smaller one for the vinegar wash. John

 

[John_Brandt]

John (bb7551),

Welcome to reefs.org and the Industry Forum. You are in the right place to get views, suggestions and information on the aquarium industry. There are people here representing all aspects of the trade. We have various individuals with experience all the way from the collecting to the retail scene.

Best wishes and good luck with your plans.

 

[JennM]

Do not forget to calculate the cost of your utilities in your plan...

Water, RO filters, salt, electricity to run the lights and pumps, heat (if you are outside in the winter...) your $1.75 "profit" will get sucked up quickly.

That's the "big picture" that everybody was talking about in the initial posts of the thread. People see the markup on a particular creature, and see dollar signs in their eyes. It doesn't work that way. Overhead is high, even without a retail store front (which amplifies that expense), the cost of upkeep on marine organisms is not cheap.

Start with something small - say prop some corals in your home tank, trade them in at the LFS for store credit. If it grows from there, great. If it doesn't, you still have your hobby which you enjoy. Do not bite off more than you can chew, and have fun with it.

Jenn

 

[bb7551]

well, I did add in the 40 bucks/month for either heating the HG, whitch I was already going to do, or for the HPS fixture Either one I think will work. My GH is 14x24 and have ben trying to see how I can make a profit off of it. This may be it? I do have brugmansias, whitch I can take cuttings from, and bannas I can take pups off of, whitch is not all that much mony. I want it to at least covert the cost of the heat, whitch is alot of money in itself. I Will have alot of time on my hands I the next two years due to the fact that I will be homeschoold I usually work one day a week and do all the things I need to do in a week in one day. I figure I can go through 1 load of creat each day I can use it whitch are like 80 or so lbs each. I am really counting on 75 cents/lb for the total profit. So even if I do not get the 1.25 lb profit, I will be OK with it. The real reason why I was asking about markup was to see about what I could charge for the fish, how much I could pay my employees ect. I also think that the reason those other people with that one verry small pet shop is that the people are the sole propriators and don't need to pay for anybody to work there. If they do need help one of the two's mom or dad to come in, and they don't pay them. so they still get all the profit. I am just wonering how them people live off there pet shop? Mabey I will have a resturant and a pet shop? Not next to eachother of corse LOL John

 

[bb7551]

I really don't have a reef yet, so can't frag. Also, I was wondering if I could make a 200 galon reef out in the GH so I don't have to worry about the lights. With alot of snails and crabs, would it be possable? and then have a fragging section of the tank? Thanks, John

 

[flameangel1]

Hi John,,
You have a lot of ideas there but may I make a suggestion that is worth its weight in GOLD ???
LISTEN to advice from those who are doing what you want to do-read everything you can get your hands on about starting and running a business and write down a comprehensive business plan.
Then, cut your "profit" on that paper by at least half and double your expenses , as this is the reality of being a business owner.
Get some experience under your belt, and think long and carefully about whatever you want to do.
But, most important, LISTEN to advice from those who have been there and done that-OK ???
Good Luck !!!!!!