Opportunity to work at LFS

highlite2nice · Oct 13, 2017

Hello Everyone,

I have an opportunity to work at a LFS and I am truly tempted as I feel I would really enjoy it. It would be a tech job (cleaning tanks, servicing clients tanks and also working in the retail store. The issue is that the pay is only 13/hr which is well under what I am accustomed to (told that there was opportunity to make commission and bonus). I am in my mid 30's with wife and kids not sure if this would be the best move for me, but I can't help being tempted as I want to love what I do.

Has anyone worked at a LFS? Did you like it or did you get tired of being around your hobby all the time?

Krzydmnd · Oct 13, 2017

It could give you the experience to open your own place some day. If your wife supports you and it's something you really want to get in to and can afford to do it that holds a lot of value.

I left a lucrative career to open a brewery which was my hobby. For my mental health it was the best thing I've ever done. This could be your path!

Best of luck on whatever you decide to do! No wrong choices here.

Antics · Oct 13, 2017

13/hr with commission isn't bad especially if there is room for growth, but it really depends on your education and skill set to know if your skills/labor is undervalued. Working in a LFS can be very rewarding and educating but it will naturally pull a little fun out of the hobby. Most people dislike maintenance/cleaning the most and that's what the majority of your day will be. Are there any other benefits provided? Is overtime available?

highlite2nice · Oct 13, 2017

Antics said:
13/hr with commission isn't bad especially if there is room for growth, but it really depends on your education and skill set to know if your skills/labor is undervalued. Working in a LFS can be very rewarding and educating but it will naturally pull a little fun out of the hobby. Most people dislike maintenance/cleaning the most and that's what the majority of your day will be. Are there any other benefits provided? Is overtime available?

No real benefits except for vacation time. I believe there will be occasional OT, but nothing consistent.

highlite2nice · Oct 13, 2017

Krzydmnd said:
It could give you the experience to open your own place some day. If your wife supports you and it's something you really want to get in to and can afford to do it that holds a lot of value.

I left a lucrative career to open a brewery which was my hobby. For my mental health it was the best thing I've ever done. This could be your path!

Best of luck on whatever you decide to do! No wrong choices here.

Good advice/input thank you

enveetie · Oct 13, 2017

I used to long ago. It was nice to work a job that I also considered a hobby, but working is different. You will eventually find your values as a hobbyist may not match up with the values of the LFS as a business. You may be asked to make sales that you do not agree with, or give advice you do not agree with.

You're going to see a lot of people who come into your LFS with very limited knowledge looking to you to make sure they do things right. The majority of LFS I know take advantage of this situation. You may have different ideas or methods to share with customers, but it may not align with a sales minded owner, and you may have to remain silent. In the end, it really depends on if you can stomach it if your LFS is trash. Can you repeat the company line knowing deep down you don't agree?

I'm glad I had the experience. I learned the fish business; saw how it worked first hand. I came to realize loooong ago I didn't need an LFS at all to fully participate in this hobby once I knew what I was doing.

Whether you should do it, and for that compensation, is really a question only you can answer.

CindyKz · Oct 14, 2017

Not an LFS, but after years of fitness as a hobby I took it on as a job, becoming a personal trainer and fitness instructor. I wouldn't say it took ALL of the joy from it for me, but I did get really sick of being in the gym and it took away a lot of the fun of my own workouts. I did it for years to pay for my Y membership, but decided never to make my "fun" my job again, and quit teaching fitness classes as soon as I could afford to.