Small business - anyone know how?

[danedodger]

With the problems at work and having not a single, great LFS in my area I've revisited an old dream of mine about opening my own small business. I haven't the foggiest idea how to go about this though! I'll be online all day seeing what I can find out but does anyone here know anything about it?

 

[darth tang]

I can tell you how I started mine, but it probably won't help you. My start up costs are a lot less than what yours will be. your looking at a huge start up cost. I can, if you like put you in touch with my LFS guy and I am sure he would be willing to give advice. Especially since you are no competiton to him...lol.
Just post your email and I will send it...

 

[danedodger]

your looking at a huge start up cost.
That's the most discouraging part and why I haven't gone for it yet

I really appreciate any help I can get figuring it all out though. Thanks a ton, Darth! My email is DaneDodgers at aol.com

 

[darth tang]

Email sent.
I do know, that he orders 25-30000 dollars worth of livestock and supplies a week.....this is his cost.
Just somewhere to start.

 

[dea_mt]

to tell you the truth i think most reefers are seeking livestock online. LFS's almost always suck. personally i think you should start w/ a livestock only website.
you could start out a lot cheaper and make some dough. then work your way up! sky's the limit. could be the next SWF.com :thinking:

 

[danedodger]

Thanks again, Darth!!!
And thanks for the other possible idea to look into, DEA_MT!! That is worth thinking about. Hmmm I would guess with that though I'd either have to breed my own stuff or (and in the case of fish that aren't successful at breeding yet) go through a collector of some sort. That in itself would be a huge, expensive undertaking! I'll look into it though.

 

[mitzel]

You could always look into starting a company that does maintanance and set up for local busieness. You could even work this around the ***** thing for a while untill you have a good clientel going. I don't know if you get an employe discount or not but that would help out with puchases such as tanks. You already have a good live stock supply source here at SWF.COM.
This would be great not only would you be able to work with fish but your in control of their maintanance. I know the only thing my dentist does with his tank is feed the fish.

 

[danedodger]

You could always look into starting a company that does maintanance and set up for local busieness. You could even work this around the ***** thing for a while untill you have a good clientel going. I don't know if you get an employe discount or not but that would help out with puchases such as tanks. You already have a good live stock supply source here at SWF.COM.
Yes, I'm going to seriously evaluate that idea as a service I can offer! Thanks for reminding me!
I do get a very nice discount at ***** and on top of my employee discount I get their membership discounts and coupons as well! And I would definitely consider SWF here as a supplier! Everyone that's ordered from them seem to be very pleased with their purchases and my own purchase from them was excellent!
And who knew? I found a website for a non-profit agency that offers free help on starting up and keeping a business! I contacted them for advice expecting to wait on a reply (they said they try to reply within 48 hrs) but she's already emailed me back!!! Very awesome! She even sounds like a very nice person and offered to keep mentoring me once I get together what she advised as the first step for me to take.
Man, anyone interested in this agency drop me a line and I'll send it to you!

 

[madman133]

hey if you do start up an online business let me know might llike to order something sometime. Dont worry mods i will order from here too.

 

[oficedepot]

be a vet, it's a booming business.

 

[danedodger]

:hilarious Thanks, Madman! It'll be a long way down the line really. One thing I'll certainly be looking into is an article on a hot new product out there that I read about in my TFH mag, breathable bags! You put in water, fish, and no air because the bag surface allows for gas exchange plus there's less stress on the fish because there's no sloshing around. Way cool!! The author of the article said he'd seen fish live in one for a MONTH with no apparent ill affects and only opened them then because the poor things needed to eat! :scared: Definitely not what I would do, he was testing the product of course, but I think they're awesome! I'd keep them for shipping because I fully expect they're far more expensive and kind of overkill for anyone just taking a fish home from the store but just think about the fabulous opportunity it is in shipping methods!

 

[danedodger]

be a vet, it's a booming business.
With people becoming more and more educated about animal issues I expect it is, especially in fields that were neglected in the past like vets specializing in fish veterinary medicine! Being a vet was also a childhood dream of mine but after my experiences I've come to the conclusion that I'd never be able to make it financially. I have too much of a tendancy to take on "rescue cases" out of my own pocket plus I find it hard not to just flat out tell someone when they're being STUPID in regards to their pets

I do think it'd be a definite advantage to participate in the workshops offered in some places for the aquatic vet! Do you know they can spay and neuter fish these days????? Wow, the mind just BOGGLES!!!

 

[turningtim]

Dane, first thanks for you support! I've read your posts and have been thinking most of the day today. I do like the idea of the maintanance company. You could keep overhead down and use your discounts to get things going. In addition you could market yourself as a fish sitter. Either you could take care of the tanks while ppl were on vacation or be the main contact if something goes wrong with the tank when others are doing the fish sitting.
I know somebody that does have a maint. biz and he has an arrangement with a local pet store. he put up 4 75-90 gal tanks in the store and keeps his clients new stuff in there and orders extra to sale. I assume that the more you buy the cheaper the product. He maintains the tanks and gives advise to those that come in. I'm not sure how the money works but I know he gets his cut from sales and the owner gets folks in his store.
I have run my own small biz before. The biggest thing I can tell you is DO NOT be afraid to charge what your worth. Making a living is hard enough w/o short changeing yourself. If ppl think you charge to much then you don't want to work for them anyway. Its amazing that ppl will complain about the bills but they always call you back.
You pay peanuts you get monkeys! If you want someone to take care of things you have to pay for it.
HTH
Go for it!
Tim

 

[ross]

As far as being a lfs goes, look to servicing and internet sales as your 2 main things to keep you in business. Go go some restaraunts and try to get a contract servicing, that will help get your name out. Also get a good website built, that is very important.

 

[scubadoo]

http://www.sba.gov/tx/sanantonio/

 

[danedodger]

Thanks everyone!! You've given me loads of helpful advice and ideas! Tim, I especially love this:
You pay peanuts you get monkeys!
Had me rollin but it's so true!
I've got lots of intense research ahead of me before I can even really dip my toe into this big pond. The email mentor I got from that one great website has me writing up all about my competitors, brands they carry, assortments, prices, etc. It's a good thing the research will take forever so I can start saving up money to start everything! Although I am looking into some of the options mentioned here as ways to earn some extra to put towards the initial investment like setting up and servicing other's tanks which is a big help