How to start a fish store?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
It is the job of the lfs to educate new fish keepers as best as possible. That is what will bring in the sales, doing up grades and supplies is where the $$$ are at. Most lfs break even on fish sales.
 
What fish store you buy your fish at? The one's around here mark there fish up 300%. they buy it for 5 USD and sell them for 15 USD.
 
ldschmdit29;2724785; said:
What fish store you buy your fish at? The one's around here mark there fish up 300%. they buy it for 5 USD and sell them for 15 USD.
Click to expand...
The mark up can be even more then that, I have bettas such as half moon selling $60+ I know that they are around $10 whole sale.

With that said it is still hard to make any money, you have a lot to pay for.

Lets say you have a small store with 3 full time employees and 2 part time,

Power $1000/m
Heat $250/m
Water $100/m
Wages $5760/m for 3 full time @ $12/h
Wages part time $1200/m for 2 @ 15h/w @ $10/h
Health care $700/m
Rent $9100/m 1300sqf @ $7/sqf
Common area fees $600/m
Insurance $250/m

Total monthly cost
18960

Now for just the live stock cost,

I had a vey small selection of fish when I was doing this so I will use my numbers, I only had about 350 gallons to fill.

Total cost for live stock $700
Shipping $200
USFW permit $85
Losses after DOA declaration $50

Total cost $1035

Now each fish has a different mark up, but when it was all said and done I would make a about $300 per order.

I was only selling live stock and I did it from home after the start up costs I only broke even.
 
sean-820;2724639; said:
Honestly if you want to open somethign along those line i would keep your current job then start a discus breeing project or breed some reptiles (if you know anything about them) like ball pythons. Morphs of these if they are quality can sell for alot of money like if you get some good (like high quality morph) ball python breeders you could be selling each baby (about 4-5) for $1000 so 4-5000 will leave you with some profit after the expensis are taken care of. One thing you have to keep in mind is save a bunch for a vet just in case.


Oddballs would draw people from mfk in, however thats not really a huge market since most people like more common fish and thats why big als carries them. You would deffinitly need common fish then have a decent selection of oddballs.
Click to expand...


You can make moeny just off breeding thing it is to much work.

YA i know that why you stock everyoen favourite common, but also ahve some rare ones for thoese more experience.
 
Benfica;2728535; said:
Bought a new book on fish. Its pretty good for only 10.00
Click to expand...

and that has anything to do with this thread? plz stop trying to bump this thread, its pretty much done. just let it run its course
 
Benfica;2721549; said:
Privacy sorry:(

Theyd o not have website though.
Click to expand...

snaggle;2722255; said:
I find i kind of funny that you ask everyone here to share the wholesalers that we know of have used in the past but you wull not share.
Click to expand...

puffcrusader696;2722292; said:
i was thinking the same thing...
Click to expand...

Well said. I know he was asking about wholesalers earlier. I figured since he was asking other people for wholesalers that he should also be willing to share.

Benfica;2722730; said:
No body stated any names of any wholesalers. But if you want it badly and i jsut found out they do havea website.

Just search friendship aquatics and company.

You have to email them to get price list.

They sell in bulk and got really good prices.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

"No body stated any names of any wholesalers."

I think Tank mentioned Segrest Farms.
 
wow
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom