Pet Shop Questions!

[Bb7551]

Hi I was wondering if you guys could maybe answer some of my questions? What I basically want to do is open a store that I could make some good money off of, (by good I mean, enough to live) and then grow it from there, into maybe a small chain, serving south jersey. My question is, would it be wise to start small, maybe 1,000-1,500 square feet, and then grow into something bigger, or should I just go bigger right away? My main focus will be fish, and I hope a large part of my business will be marine animals, and supplies, because I like them the best, AND the local petsmart can't compete!

I want to eventually get to about 6,500 square feet, and full line, but, I'm not sure if I should start at the 1,000-1,500 SF store, and then grow, or wait (maybe find a business partner?) to go for the bigger store?

Also, price is a big factor, is there a guideline as to how much a store will cost? I want a rough number to work off of, is $75/sf to conservative an estimate? Or, is $100/sf more like it? Less? More?

Hope you can help!
Thanks
John

[TWills32]

I too am looking into someday opening a pet store. My advice would be to start small and work your way up. Also, you can't just have a pet store of what you like the best, it has to be what the consumer wants. If you want to be successful, you have to think of the consumer. I'm not saying don't have fish in your store if that's what you want. What I'm saying is keep an open mind and provide many different products and services. I hope I helped a little bit!

[Prickles]

Yes, I agree. You should sell other things besides fish. There is a store by me that has the whole back part with tanks and fish, but it it does sell other animal products. You just won't make that much money only specializing in fish.

[Bb7551]

Fish would be my main focus, not my only one, I would also have small birds, (bred, and hand fed by me) with reptiles, feeder rodents, and things like hamsters, and gerbils. I just want them to stay a small part, mostly because Petsmart is in the market I want to tap, and they got small animals pinned, what they don't have is saltwater fish, good quality fresh water fish, good planted aquariums, and a knowledgeable staff to assist customers, weather they want a goldfish in a bowl, or a 2,000 gallon reef. I'm starting my business plan, and for the 4,500 square foot store, it is going to cost me $375,000 with working capital. I don't have that kind of cash, or collateral, to get it... so its either find a business partner, or wait 10 years... the 2,000 square foot store would be 195,000, with is again, to much... Anything smaller and I don't know if it would be worth it.... I don't know if I could make enough cash off of it to live...

[Prickles]

Unless you are very experianced with saltwater fish, I'd hold it until you have established a store. Fresh water is fine because it's easy to care for and sells better. I wouldn't be putting any hopes up for saltwater. I'm not saying having a pet store is a bad idea, i'm just saying that don't count on saltwater fish to sell like hot cakes.

[Prickles]

What will sell more are everyday things like food and bedding. Something like an animal will sell, but you will be getting most of your profit from everyday supplies for pets.

[Bb7551]

All the people I've talked to pretty much say that animals are where your going to make money, and bedding, food, and that are very little profit, and are just used to keep people in the store.

The secret to salt sellin' is success. If your customers are successful in there keeping, they will keep coming back. If you sell someone an UGF for there 75 gallon reef, and a 20 watt light... they will fail, and when they fail, they tend not to go to your store, and just stop keeping all together, although, if you sell them a VHO/MH combo with high quality LR, and some good power heads, they will succeeded in there keeping, and keep coming back, for coral, fish, there supplements, bulbs, and other tanks, as well as tell there friends.

I am experienced with salt, I have a 75 FO, 55 gal reef, and a 2 gal nano, and worked at a store that sold salt fish, and while I was working there I've heard countless people say "(place name here) had a salt tank, and they said it was so hard to maintain, and the fish only live for like, two months, it's not worth it!"

[fishman]

Well when all of you get your stores open I can supply them with fish. I am a fish farmer and I grow goldfish & koi......
Thanks,
Fishman

[Dustin07]

That's actually true... I hadn't really thought about it before, but the really successful stores out here (the ones that I like and respect the most) don't really sell a lot of salt. probably 80-90% freshwater.

For saltwater I would probably setup one nice informative tank with the species you like the most and notes on them (like ordering info?) and then have a couple of tanks with species for sale. I would chose 'easy' (as if there was such a thing) fish for these tanks to help people get started. and the nice display tank allows you to show people would they could do, plus you get to enjoy the ones you really like the most yourself.

[jkbudde14]

I too am looking into someday opening a pet store. My advice would be to start small and work your way up. Also, you can't just have a pet store of what you like the best, it has to be what the consumer wants. If you want to be successful, you have to think of the consumer. I'm not saying don't have fish in your store if that's what you want. What I'm saying is keep an open mind and provide many different products and services. I hope I helped a little bit!

Ur right start small and grow up !!!!:)

[jkbudde14]

Unless you are very experianced with saltwater fish, I'd hold it until you have established a store. Fresh water is fine because it's easy to care for and sells better. I wouldn't be putting any hopes up for saltwater. I'm not saying having a pet store is a bad idea, i'm just saying that don't count on saltwater fish to sell like hot cakes.

I think ur right u should not have saltwater unless u are very expirenced !

[jkbudde14]

Well when all of you get your stores open I can supply them with fish. I am a fish farmer and I grow goldfish & koi......
Thanks,
Fishman

i want to get pre pared will u send me some pricing my email is jkbudde14@rochester.rr.com!

Thanks!!!
JKBUDDE14!

[jkbudde14]

Opening a pet store well you need to have a Business Licence which is $100 Every other YEAR! You also need a "Fedral Tax Idenifcation Number " it is free and you get on @ almost every bank, or Credit Union !