How can I start a business selling saltwater aquarium fish?

[Scoot]

What should I know before opening my store? As far as licenses, keeping live stock, equipment, and inventory. I do have experience and I have worked in the feild however I do want your advice with fish, inventory and marketing etc. Thanyou. My store will be in the united states NJ

[Tabitha]

You want a high starting capital. You want enough to get your stock and setup, enough to operate at least 6 months if the store gets no income, and shop around. Know that phone, electric, etc, rates are much higher for a commercial user than a residential. To run the same tank that is at your home in a retail store would cost 2-3 times, or more, than what it costs you in electricity and water in your home! An employee that you pay $10 an hour actually will cost you more than that an hour, maybe $14 and hour, from additional costs in matching social security, worker's comp insurance, etc. It is usually the hidden costs that will destroy and bankrupt a new small business.

Start with a good business plan and estimated start up and operation cost, then double that.

[nemoose]

You will never be successful commercially raising saltwater fish unless you are willing to devote 10's of thousands of dollars for equipment and facilities. The successful commercial breeders are large operations, There are some small breeders who sell to pet stores, etc but in most cases they are not very profitable.. At that level the cost to produce the fish comes close to equaling the value of them. So in this case the saying go big or go home applies very well.