I am considering starting my own fish store. I will specialize in agressive and dangerous freshwater fishes. How does one import fishes wholesale? Do I just look online for wholesellers and then contact them? How are fishes packaged and sent from Africa or Asia? Thanks.
Start My Own Fish Store
- Thread starter yourockit
- Start date
You have alot to learn grasshopper.. If that's the first things you're considering.
First you need an import license and I would guess at least a tax id number for your business. There are many wholesalers you can buy from, some from asia, some from S.A. and africa and some from the u.s. like TFD pending what you're stocking. But account for DOA's, store front costs(if any), average daily/weekly sales, etc.
I wish you luck though and I'm sure you'll get more input.
First you need an import license and I would guess at least a tax id number for your business. There are many wholesalers you can buy from, some from asia, some from S.A. and africa and some from the u.s. like TFD pending what you're stocking. But account for DOA's, store front costs(if any), average daily/weekly sales, etc.
I wish you luck though and I'm sure you'll get more input.
cichlaguapote;1189759; said:
man..lot of thing you've to do.some research and contact especially license and good dealer...BUT that NOT IMPOSSIBLE..well i gotta say.GOD LUCK..i wish i'd drop by ur store..
While this forum may be a good place to find information on keeping and raising fish I don't think it's the best place to look for advice on starting a business. First of all get in touch with local organizations that can help you learn about the ins and outs of business in general. Second, speak to a lawyer who knows about livestock and make sure you know all of the applicable rules. There may be some stipulations that you wont like and that may dissuade you from opening a fish biz, best to know before you spend much $. After that, set a target for yourself, eg. I want to be Big Al's (Canada's biggest fish retailer [I think anyways]) and see what they are doing that is successful. If you want to do something new, still check out some successful fish stores and see what you can adopt. More importantly, see if the business owner can give you any tips.
Having watched my parents start and operate two seperate businesses and now being groomed to take over one I have learned that there is A LOT more to it than just putting up an open for business sign. If you aren't young and able to start again when you fail, or rich enough already not to go into ruin if you fail you probably want to think it over again. Look up the stats on how many small businesses succeed, or even how many are around after their first 2 or 3 years, you may reconsider after that too.
To add even more problems, you're thinking of a business that, even if its only a small location, will require significant startup costs. As mentioned, there are lisences, there are probably fees associated with those that you must pay yearly. You have to invest in all the tanks, the fish, chemicals, etc etc. You then have to set the damn thing up which will cost you some and if you want to boost sales you're going to want to make it aesthetically appealing as well. Again, if you're not some rich guy already, are you comfortable knowing that the bank will own your ass for as many years as it takes you to pay them back, or worse, indefinetely if you cannot?
All that said, more power to you if you decide to go for it and I wish you the best of luck. There is nothing comparable to being your own boss, and nothing more rewarding than seeing the fruits of your labor. When you've sorted out all of the 'business end' come back here for stocking advice and tips on caring for the fish in your store, the people here are great for that!
Having watched my parents start and operate two seperate businesses and now being groomed to take over one I have learned that there is A LOT more to it than just putting up an open for business sign. If you aren't young and able to start again when you fail, or rich enough already not to go into ruin if you fail you probably want to think it over again. Look up the stats on how many small businesses succeed, or even how many are around after their first 2 or 3 years, you may reconsider after that too.
To add even more problems, you're thinking of a business that, even if its only a small location, will require significant startup costs. As mentioned, there are lisences, there are probably fees associated with those that you must pay yearly. You have to invest in all the tanks, the fish, chemicals, etc etc. You then have to set the damn thing up which will cost you some and if you want to boost sales you're going to want to make it aesthetically appealing as well. Again, if you're not some rich guy already, are you comfortable knowing that the bank will own your ass for as many years as it takes you to pay them back, or worse, indefinetely if you cannot?
All that said, more power to you if you decide to go for it and I wish you the best of luck. There is nothing comparable to being your own boss, and nothing more rewarding than seeing the fruits of your labor. When you've sorted out all of the 'business end' come back here for stocking advice and tips on caring for the fish in your store, the people here are great for that!
Let's just say I want to buy 300 atfs for personal enjoyment. I certainly do not want to pay a middle-man; so who sells atfs at wholesale? Specifically Goliaths? How would this work? How many are sold per shipment? What is the usual mark-up for fish shipments from africa? thanks guys.
Yeah more power to you the world needs more good LFSes. Definetly would suggest you read up on business management first before you even get into how to order your merchandise but then again mabye you have...
Honestly I just want to see a picture of 50 african tiger fish in a 2000 gal aqaurium! ...please?
Honestly I just want to see a picture of 50 african tiger fish in a 2000 gal aqaurium! ...please?
yourockit;1189866; said:
For that many fish you would probably import them from africa yourself. It should save you costs vs finding someone else here who can get them and there for having a middle man.
But with importing your own fish you have DOA's(some wholesalers don't credit/refund for DOA's even if it's a whole shipment) and just wholesalers who are crappy to deal with.
You would probably buy fish by the box, like $xx.xx per box of goliath ATF's. And x amount would fit in a box. But I will say even if you had the money for 300 I don't know if you could get ahold of 300 goliath ATF at once due to demand all over the world for them. You're talking a wild caught fish and having to catch 300 of them just for you not to mention the demand in asia/europe/other countrys.
I don't think anyone here has a certain contact you can call up for goliath atf and the stores that make fish their business probably won't tell you. So either think of a good way to get that info from fish stores without them knowing why you need to know who they get GATF from or start seeking it yourself through research.