The Fish Guy

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Joshy

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 4, 2006
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Essex, England
www.bbc.co.uk
Discovered something I just had to share with you lot. I looked out the window and noticed a little van parked outside mine just now. And behold, the writing on the side of it says ‘The Fish Guy’, ‘Mobile Aquarium & Pond Maintenance blah blah blah’. He must be employed for next door’s fish tank.

Who would have guessed it, someone with their own business, making money, maintaining other people’s tanks! SWEET!

Just wanting to hear all your views on it, you recon he makes much money?

And if anyone in the south east wants, I got his number.
 
The Owner of our local site has a business of this type.. he makes enough money to make a nice house payment and just got a nice car and also just had a poll on the rims he was getting :) I wouldn't say he makes a million though as the cost of living here is still excellent.. Compared to elsewhere..
 
I have to say, I really like the idea of it IF it is profitable. His expenses would run at a van, a bit of local newspaper advertising and the cleaning equipment. Not too many expenses, and with the number of hobbyists (serious and not) rising, its all adding up.
 
Joshy;702304; said:
I have to say, I really like the idea of it IF it is profitable. His expenses would run at a van, a bit of local newspaper advertising and the cleaning equipment. Not too many expenses, and with the number of hobbyists (serious and not) rising, its all adding up.
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there are several ppl that i know of here locally & this is a pretty small town...you also have to consider all of the public offices/places that need their tanks maintained...you can make decent $$ once you get your foot in the door ;)
 
It can be profitable if:

1) You will be servicing saltwater/reef systems -- the reason is that many people who own these don't have the skill, desire, or time to maintain them. At the same time considering how much money can be invested into such set up they will be willing to pay top $$ to anyone who can do a job
2) Businesses -- most hobyists will dotheir own tanks. Business on the other hand fall into the same category as above. They are rather pay you for maintenance than to have an unsightly tank (can be a big turn off for cutomers)
3) Research is a must just like with any other venture -- how many LFS do you have in your area? Are they doing well? If not, this could be an indication that local residents are not into fish keepeing
4) How will you advertise? A word of mouth? Print media? TV? Etc?
5) Cost of equipment -- figure out what your start up capital is (please dont fool yourself by thinking that you can get a business started with nothing but a couple of buckets, an old python hose and a dodge neon you drive on weekends. You may want to invest in a powerfull RO unit to produce your own water for saltwater and discuss tanks
6) Legality -- will you register a corporation? You will need some sort of a liability insurance to protect you from potential lawsuits that can result from fish dying after your service or a tank springing a leak. Also, be ready for your autoinsurance to jump up if you assign your car to be a business vehicle
7) Make sure you befriend a shrink -- doing tank maintenance for business is not the same as cleaning your own tank. Customers will give you hell and will drive you up the wall. Plus, you will not always succeed in telling them that their oscar cannot be kept in a 20 gallon tank. Many will get upset and wont use your service any longer. You willalso be blamed for just about every unexplained fish death

I think its a great idea but you in order to succeed you must approach it like a business venture from the beginning ;)
 
Stab said:
Make sure you befriend a shrink
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Shrink?:ROFL: :ROFL: :nilly:

Very informative post.:)
 
sounds like a good idea to me?
 
there is only one guy in our area that i know of that does this. And he was my manager at my last place of work before we closed down. he apparently makes enough money along with his girlfriends income to afford an apartment and a car blah blah blah. That fact of the matter is he is doing what he loves. As stab stated you be maintaining mostly marine tanks. Saltwater was his passion so it really wasnt a problem for him. he also does freshwater tanks but doesnt have far as many because they are easy to care for. his advertising mostly came from the customers who came into our store and word of mouth as far as i know, he had cards on the front counter where everyone who got a fish or tank or whatever could see. With the right knowledge and experience you could make this into a profitable busines considering that their is work for you to do.

He recently put in a 144 gal half circle marine tank in a local bar, he said he made some big bucks off that.
 
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