cost of start up of a new fish store?

shino380 · #1 06/29/2004, 10:20 PM

hi guys.. i was just wondering bout setting up a fish store.. how much does it cost and how much work is in the set up of it all??
anyone can gimme a rough estimate of how much it costs to just start it up.. 30K?? thinking bout gettin into the business in Austin Tx

want a tropical and marine fish store.. maybe 10 tanks of marine at most and the rest tropical...
a couple tanks being the coral tanks.. and the rest fish

sorry if this thread topic does not fit..
but any comments and suggestions will be greatly appreciated

dcs · #2 06/29/2004, 10:27 PM

try about 300K. I ran the nukmbers once and it is more than you think.. Plus the return on the investment is pretty low. Take the money and invest it in real estate. thats my opinion

billsreef · #3 06/29/2004, 10:37 PM

If you want to work long hours and work hard, while making little money, figure you can spend about $40-$50 per square foot to build a modest store. This is also assuming that you do most of your own construction of things like tank racks, shelve's etc. The more you need to hire contractors, the higher that figure gets.

Reefdrumz · #4 07/08/2004, 12:23 PM

That is my dream job! I always thought about starting my own Store, until i spoke to a few LFS in the area.. After listening to all their troubles and the $$ the spend... I figured i will just keep my own private store in my house.. lol

redpaulhus · #5 07/08/2004, 04:04 PM

Lots of good reading in Ben Birdsill's columns over the years:
http://www.birdsill.com/otc/index.html

He's done quite a few on what it takes to plan a successful LFS

Paul B · #6 07/08/2004, 05:34 PM

Here in NY we have more aquarium stores than you can shake a stick at and I have never seen a small one stay in business more than a couple of years. The very big ones are still here after 25 years.
Paul

dochoot · #7 07/09/2004, 05:43 PM

After reading this forum, who would want to deal with us as customers day in and day out?

Reefdrumz · #8 07/10/2004, 09:09 AM

Thats soooo true.. I was in my LFS the other day listening to some people.. I think i would be smacking customers.. haha

Can I Put that nemo fish in my freshwater tank?

or.. I have a clown trigger and a canary wrasse and a Yellow tang
in my 20 gallon.. How many more fish can i put in it?

People are ridiculous!

zanemoseley · #9 07/10/2004, 11:41 PM

IMO if you're into Reef tanks and want to start a business I'd suggest to start a online site and start a small coral business with stock tanks. IMO corals online is where the money is.