Starting a online coral/fish business

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Before I get started I’ve done my research on permits, licence, insurance, CITES and the such.


I want to start a home based online retail business, specializing in fish and corals. I’ve made a few posts on my local forums and for where I live and the distance to any LFS (closest is an hour away and ridden with aptasia and bubble algae) and the rest are 2-3 hours away. There’s quite a few members in my area who drive 2-3 hours and would like to have something closer.

My plan is to set up 3 80 gallon frag tanks, and 4-5 fish tanks. The frags would be ok there own system and then 2 separate systems for fish.

I’d be doing this on the side of my current job, so if it doesn’t work out I’m not back where I am. I’m not looking to make much of anything from the corals, if I can help with my personal tanks, and help others with out the drive that’s all I care about.

My biggest concern, how do I find a reliable exporter from Indo or other places where our fish and coral come from? I know asking an LFS or anyone else in the business won’t give me an answer since I’d be taking there business. So how does one find a reliable source. I know I’ll only get a few select nice corals and fish amongst a bunch of browned out stuff, and I’m ok with that.

Plan, plan, and plan some more. Have you done a business plan, for starters. I'm in socal, 2hrs from wholesalers in LA. I met a guy who's been in business 10 yrs and counting. Online coral business. What keeps him the busiest is changing/adding, prices/items on his website. Most wholesalers will drop ship to your customers for additional price. In LA, Sea Dwelling Creatures one of the best. They do have a minimum $500. One of their wholesalers is Cairns Marine's. There Australia . I'm in the process of opening an account there. The website if you plan one, seems to take up a lot of your time. If doing yourself. Plan good, and do it. I am.

 

[Violetaquarium]

You may be able to do it and it may take long time. Maintaininng commercial quantity livestock should not be taken lightly. People who tried usually end up spending 18 hrs a day and lose their life. They may get a divorce too. Not trying to dicourage but being realistic. Start a tech company or a company that is more to do with healthcare (people always get sick) and it may or may not make profit but it may be worth trying. But fish and coral business? huh don't make the same mistake I made my friend.