Question About A Breeding Business

[haleystropicalfish]

Thanks for viewing!

Okay, I breed guppies, but I haven't sold any yet. My mom has a friend who's grand-daughter wants to buy from me but that's another story. What would it take to start a business with my guppies? What kind of lisences does it take and how much do they cost? How do I know if the name I want to use (Haley's Tropical Fish) is already taken?

Thanks!

 

[modaz]

Thanks for viewing!

Okay, I breed guppies, but I haven't sold any yet. My mom has a friend who's grand-daughter wants to buy from me but that's another story. What would it take to start a business with my guppies? What kind of lisences does it take and how much do they cost? How do I know if the name I want to use (Haley's Tropical Fish) is already taken?

Thanks!

you need to google "companies house" as that will tell you if the name is already being used but i doubt it as its seem very unique but good luck with it.
Approach your local council and ask for general licsensing dept, get all the info and think hard about it. it should be around £90 a year
Also google Barclays business plan, its free to download as is awesome with info on how to have successful business.

Good luck

 

[helterskelter]

Your in America i'm guessing from "Mom" and the rules there are different to the UK so i dont have a clue.

The best approach is to breed line breed fish as a hobby and build up to it, the cost of heating is terrable but if ur's in warmer area's u can rear them out doors and unheated.

Also u need to breed enough to meet the demand if u want breed for a living then you need to be able to keep up or your have problem expecialy if u supply any one one a regular basis like shops, as a hobby it's not a problem but just see how it goe's.

 

[haleystropicalfish]

I live in the US not the UK so that first thing doesn't work, and there's no such thing as a coucil here. I have plenty of time for expandin ght enuber of tanks I have and doing reserch as I don't want to start until I'm at least 15 so I can drive. I'll have to take "Mom" with me but mabey I can keep James from coming. He smokes and makes breathing hard to do in the car Soon we will be painting and re-arranging my room and I'm going to put shelves all along one wall for tanks, so I'll have more fish room Oh, and is a 5 gallon big enough for a breeder? (guppies)

 

[helterskelter]

well i'll say if u can afford quality line breed fish get something special then the line breed them and sell on aquabid till you sure u want to do it on a larger scale

 

[Tolak]

You don't need a business license to sell the amount of fish you are considering out of your home. You actually don't want the burden of paying taxes, filing quarterly, and the associated paperwork unless you get to the size where you have to. Unless you are paying for the space you are breeding & selling out of there is no advantage to a business license.

Look in my sig, see what I have running. I probably average around 400 angels a month now, and get anywhere from 40 cents each from a broker, who will come pick up 100 at a time, to $1.50 each directly to shops, who usually take around 50 per month. I can max out at around 2,000 angels monthly, as I have two 150 gallons, and five 40 gallons that aren't set up. I would have to move 2,400 fish monthly, at $1.20 each, to quit my day job, and get a license. Months where I move 1,000 fish are rare, and I wonder why I'm beating myself to death for fish.

The people I do know that have a tax id are a discus breeder with 60 tanks, who does make a good buck, and a retired angel breeder who was running 300 tanks. The discus guy did it part time, uses the fish as a write off on his new house, the angel guy was obviously full time, and did make a good buck at it. It takes many years to get that big, the most important thing you can do now is figure out your local supply & demand.

Remember, there are no fish breeders on the Fortune 500 list.

 

[haleystropicalfish]

Oh, so you're saying I don't need one? That's awsome! I thought it was illegal to sell guppies to people other than family and friends without a lisence. Well that's good new! I wish I had more space and some people to buy the guppies

 

[Tolak]

Look for a local aquatics club. you'll find people to sell to; http/fins.actwin.com/dir/clubs.php

 

[modaz]

sorry didnt realize you were in the US and it came across as your plan being bigger than it actually is, sorry for the inappropiate reply

 

[haleystropicalfish]

Don't appologize! It was a simple miscommunication on my part. And thanks for the help Tolak! That site is awsome! The only problem is that the only place in my state is a several hour drive from here. That's why I like my City, there are no other breeders anywhere close! All the customers are mine....

 

[modaz]

[quote All the customers are mine....
[/quote]
your gunna be an awesome seller with that attitude, good for you

 

[haleystropicalfish]

Thank you! Now, does anybody have an idea of how to make my fry grow faster? I feed them flakes, brine shrimp, and egg yolk. I'm thinking about giving microworms a try, I heard they work great! What do you say?

 

[modaz]

defo micros, 10% water changes every day works as well so you can afford to feed your fry 3 times a day

 

[haleystropicalfish]

The 10% water changes are easy. I have a question about the microworms though. I've been doing some reading and I know how to start a "culture" but, this is a stupid question, do I have to buy something to put on top of or in the oatmeal or whatever I decide to use? Or do they just grow in it naturally? Don't laugh at my question, I know it sounds dumb.

 

[Tolak]

You need to do more than 10% water changes daily. A buddy of mine does livebearers, for fast growth change at least 50% daily, with many small daily feedings. He feeds them a tiny amount around 8 times daily, and swears by a home made beefheart mix that he shaves to almost microscopic size with a razor blade. He's retired, and has the time to do this, but gets livebearers big very fast, and has beautiful large adults.