How to start a fish store?

[Benfica]

I agree completely with the fact that your most likley going to have to sell more then just fish and fish equipment. We have a privatly owned local pet shop here, and it's obvious that the owners true love is of fish, but she also has a few rabbits, cats, and reptiles for sale to. It's rented out on the bottom floor of Charlottetown mall (PEI) and gets a fair bit of foot traffic, and seems to be realitivley busy. They also carry alot of equipment, which i would say makes up 2 thirds of their revenue.

That being said, back in Moncton theres another privatly owned fish (and a bit o reptile) store that rents out a building with another pet store that sells cats, rabbits, dogs etc. and they do quite well, so if you can set up shop next to another shop like this, the combined stock variety is likley to be benificial to both of you.

Those are two examples of private fish stores I really liked, just to give you and idea of what works.

That being said, I am also studing business in College, and would be happy to help yo out with and business orientated questions you may have. I would think that unless you have substatial capital, or can aquire a loan, your going to most likley have to start selling fish out of your home to start with, especially if you were planning on renting out a area in the city ($$$) Also have you taken care of all the paper work needed to start a business? such as an employer number, registering your business name, etc.

As a final thought, bettas seem to be the smartest choice to attempt to sell, they're quite popular, beautiful, and you won't feel unethical selling them to people since with a few guidelines, they'll be able to take care of them easily (rather than, goldfish for example).

Great!! I have never erally owned any reptiles execpt turtles, but my friend knows a lot so just ask him.Im pretty familiar with many other types of animals like birds,rabbits,hamster other small animals etc. So that be a good thing to stock to! Only problem is not to familiar with wholesalers for those animals just mostly fish, and reptiles. So if anyone knows where to get. Havent done any paper work yet this is just to see if it would be possible,to much trouble etc so hopefully this thread makes me open one then i can take care of paper work. If you have any advice buisness relateed then i would be very interested in hearing. Thanks for posting!!!

 

[mdb_talon]

What you should be asking yourself is : "what else can i sell besides fish?". The real "bread and butter" of the pet business is not fish it's dog, and trying to do fish only, while maybe not impossible, is very difficult. Remember, it's a business, and you need to make money. That means sales! For that, you need the right balance of inventory. It's one of the hardest things to learn, and if you don't learn it quick enough, you're done.

In pet stores the "bread and butter" is rarely if ever from animals. The animals get people in the stores and create customers. Very few stores could stay in business selling fish/dogs/cats/etc. The profits come from selling supplies/equipment/food/etc.

 

[Ben268]

a bit of info business wise

well, something that would be good to check out would be if you need a special licence from the province (I don't live in Ontario so i dunno) or the City to sell live animals, I would imagine you would but you'd have to check that out.

Also, getting a employer number shouldn't cost anymore than about $100, and registering your business name should be in the ball park of $100-500. I would say that renting space in a fairly busy mall would be the safest bet, as there's already alot of foot traffic there, but to be honest i've always thought malls rental rate was a rip off (only personal opionon), and owning (or co-owning) your own building, would be a better investment in the long run, though alot more costly to begin with.

Also see if the wholesalers your contacting offer deals on merchandise if purchased in bulk. That can increase your profit marging for that particular product fairly substantially, although keep in account that if you can't move that product outta the store quickly, then its propably not worth it as the cost of storage can be huge (running out of room for other inventory that may be in demand, having to rent warehouse space etc)

Well since this isn't a report, and to refrain from sounding like a "smarty pants: (lol) i'll stop there, thats just a few things off of the top of my head.

Edit: if you plan on selling rabbits, hamsters, mice, etc consider breeding a fair bit(or all?) of your stock for those animals yourself.

 

[Benfica]

a bit of info business wise

well, something that would be good to check out would be if you need a special licence from the province (I don't live in Ontario so i dunno) or the City to sell live animals, I would imagine you would but you'd have to check that out.

Also, getting a employer number shouldn't cost anymore than about $100, and registering your business name should be in the ball park of $100-500. I would say that renting space in a fairly busy mall would be the safest bet, as there's already alot of foot traffic there, but to be honest i've always thought malls rental rate was a rip off (only personal opionon), and owning (or co-owning) your own building, would be a better investment in the long run, though alot more costly to begin with.

Also see if the wholesalers your contacting offer deals on merchandise if purchased in bulk. That can increase your profit marging for that particular product fairly substantially, although keep in account that if you can't move that product outta the store quickly, then its propably not worth it as the cost of storage can be huge (running out of room for other inventory that may be in demand, having to rent warehouse space etc)

Well since this isn't a report, and to refrain from sounding like a "smarty pants: (lol) i'll stop there, thats just a few things off of the top of my head.

Edit: if you plan on selling rabbits, hamsters, mice, etc consider breeding a fair bit(or all?) of your stock for those animals yourself.

Very good points!! Ya my brother start a buisness of his own and i think he paid in the range you said. Got to check into the license for selling animals. I think i am reconsidering small animals bunnies hamsters etc. Since they do make alot of smell. Also if they do not get sold another expense(dead). Think ill just stick to reptiles,fish and amphians. Possibly i could just stock food for for dogs,cats, and other animals since that can be profitable but for animals proablly no. For the breeding thing i am mostly going to be breeding the livebears, esay things that doesnt requrie alot of trouble. (buy from wholesales, keep a couple of them in the back and have them for breeding then once i get a good supply i do not need to buy those from whole sales anymore, could also do that at home got quite a big basement.

Thanks a bunch!! Thats alot of help in those posted. Good lcuk with your buisness courses. Anyone else got anymore advice. Anything is appreciated!

 

[Ben268]

Thanks bout the luck thing, and no prob but helping ya out. Good point about the small animal thing, ans yeh i'd defiantly sell dog/cat food, leashes, collars, etc (possibly kennels?) that'll bring in alot of money. You might also look at stocking pond liner, or pre-made plastic pond shapes.

Good idea with the live bearers, bonus to that is that they sell pretty quick to.

Anywho, best O luck with the planning. (might want to think of a nice display tank near the shops entrance to draw people in to)

 

[Benfica]

Thanks bout the luck thing, and no prob but helping ya out. Good point about the small animal thing, ans yeh i'd defiantly sell dog/cat food, leashes, collars, etc (possibly kennels?) that'll bring in alot of money. You might also look at stocking pond liner, or pre-made plastic pond shapes.

Good idea with the live bearers, bonus to that is that they sell pretty quick to.

Anywho, best O luck with the planning. (might want to think of a nice display tank near the shops entrance to draw people in to)

Ya, i had someone state to me that a lot of profit is in tank maintaining, pond installing, and such. So i thought that was a good idea.

Also have been thinking a display tank possibly one with some rays,arowana or other rare/expensive fish would be pretyt nice, along with some saltwater displays, Cichlid display. My lfs has a nice saltwater displays,cichlid display and sharks!!!

 

[Benfica]

Lately not many posts on here

 

[Benfica]

Anyone else, i know there is lurkers Anyone got any experience or anything!!

 

[Benfica]

Still no posts Ahh well got to go now. Hopefully when i return tommrow some more people have posted keep it bumped!

 

[crowconor]

i heard you calling i would deffinetly try to rather than hire someone try to get familt or friends to help out pay them less than minimal wage...kinda cheap but when starting a buisness any money can help