Any Reptile Shop Owners.

[aitchjay]

I was hoping some reptile shop owners could put me off investing in a shop.
A couple of breeders I know want their own shop and want me to come in with them. Although shop rental is favourable at the moment I figure there are a million other things to consider like insurance, licences, council tax water, electric and whatever else.
These guys know about snakes but I've always seen it as a hobby.

[timberwolf]

Do a business plan with all these things in, you'll have a better idea then of how it all stacks up. Be realistic, for every £1 you budget for there will be an unexpected £1 expenditure you won't have foreseen. Look into local grants, depending on the area you're in there may be set-up grants available to start your own business.

Do your market research, see what local customer base you are likely to have, choose your shop location with care, look at things like parking. Establish an on-line presence quickly.

And find out where all your competition is!

Good luck with this.

[Zak]

Originally Posted by timberwolf

Do a business plan with all these things in, you'll have a better idea then of how it all stacks up. Be realistic, for every £1 you budget for there will be an unexpected £1 expenditure you won't have foreseen. Look into local grants, depending on the area you're in there may be set-up grants available to start your own business.

Do your market research, see what local customer base you are likely to have, choose your shop location with care, look at things like parking. Establish an on-line presence quickly.

And find out where all your competition is!

Good luck with this.

As above. I mean it all depends on what experience they've got. Might be able to breed reptiles but can they sell? They can be the most knowledgable people about reps known to man but in this current climate it takes a good salesman to make people part with their cash.

What sort of market are you aiming at? Specialist morphs or beginners items? Is there a market for what your planning to sell? What competition is there both locally and on internet?

In terms of costs - electricity, council tax, rent, water rates,pet shop license, public liability insurance, wages, food for animals within shop and probably a whole host more.

It sounds like you dont want in on the investment, i wouldn't bother then. Reptile shops in general are not high earners and by sounds of it theres a number of people involved. This means quite a prolonged time before recouping your investment. Many cooks spoil the brother and having so many partners in a business can lead to exactly this.

[crouchy]

Specialist reptile shops are never big earners. My dad has had pet shops for the last 30 years and he doesnt make a great deal from the reptile side of things and a close friend of mine owns a reptile shop but it only really breaks even and theres only 1 owner and 1 part time member of staff taking any wages never mind 3 investors who will all want to see profit.

As you say rent at the minute can be quite cheap, however other things wont be as favourable at the minute. Big things just arent selling. My dad says new animal sales where people buy an animal and all the equipment to go with it have fallen quite a lot in the last 6 months or so but people are still coming in for the regular foods and maintenance(sp?) stuff.

The problem with opening a new shop at the minute is that not many people are buying new animals so you arent getting new trade and you wont have any existing customers so you wont have any repeat trade.

I know that in the area where my dads shop is 3 petshops have closed down in the last 3 months, 1 of which had a big reptile section (probably about half the shop)