Tank Maintenance....

[r00onmac]

So i am getting married next july... yes i know im young, etc..

but the deal is that we are paying for our own wedding and id like to find a part time job to make some more money to support the hobby so i can save more of my "real job" money for the wedding...

i would REALLY like to maintain people's tanks as a job... go in to someones business once a week or once every two weeks and maintain their tanks... buy all the items they need with their own money, build a beautiful reef that their customers can look at, etc...

ive asked around at a couple local places and they either do all of their own or contract it out completely...

im available all day fridays, most of the day tuesdays and pretty much every other morning before 11 as well as most weekends...

do you think this is something i can setup as a personal business and that it would work? i can afford business cards, pamphlets, maybe a website...and i have SOME connections at LFS so that they can possibly put my name out there.... what do you think the average joe who wants a pretty tank would be willing to pay me for regular maintenance? is there anyway i can prevent being liable for your everyday average tank crash related to a death in the tank or something that is out of my control during the time between maintenance?

this is really a serious thing that id like to add to my current schedule so if anyone knows anything please let me know...

 

[nyvp]

if you do a search here on RC there are a couple of threads on insurance and business plans. What is your EXP and background? Do you have references? word of mouth is going to be your best friend. It takes time and energy to get a new business up and going. Best way is start out being the lowest price on campus. I would find out what the going rate is and offer a short term discount. If the going rate is say $50 Hr/week then offer a 3 month at 25 or 35 so people will give you a chance. Once you have them hook slowly raise the #'s. As long as they know ahead of time what the true $ it is to use your service, then your not surprising them. I think some will leave you when you raise your prices, but at least you made some $ off them in the mean time and they still will recommend you to friends.

 

[r00onmac]

you think it would be a horrible idea to try and take over the tank here at FIU? i have complained a thousand times that whoever they have maintaining the tank knows nothing and every time you go near it there is a dead fish or one fish beating up another, the tangs never have nori to feed on, and they have condy anemones (like 10 of them) with normal output lighting... if i was able to convince them to even let me do it for free for a month or two i would then have at least 1 large system under my belt and i could photograph it to show potential clients...

 

[nyvp]

True. Do you have any other exp? an LFS or worked for another maintenance company. If you haven't it may be worth to sign on to work for another company for 6 months or a year to get the credentials.

 

[r00onmac]

man ive been trying to get a job at a LFS for MONTHS... every time i ask they kinda blow me off...

so the answer is no.. and i dont suppose its a bad idea except the wedding is in JULY and i need to make some money before then lol

 

[ek9vboi]

Have you tried a second job? I think most LFS are looking for employees that are willing to work on their time.

IMO tank maintance is more work then you really think. The people expect you to be able to:
-do their waterchange
-test the water
-clean the tank
-maybe clean the pumps
-feed the fish
etc... that is time and money. I'm not sure how much LFS charge people to do services but i would think its a little expensive. I'll ask the place I go to next time I go.

 

[r00onmac]

but thats what im looking to do eric...

water changes, tests, cleaning, feeding, etc... and if LFS charge people a decent amount of money to do that - thats good... cuz i can undercut them by a little and make good money...

i emailed the GC main office about that tank.. well see how that goes.. i told them i would do it for free until i feel the tank is in good working order...

i am pretty sure whatever i charge will be more than i can make working any other part time job, so better than 6.50 an hour..

 

[Ryanqk]

i was doing it along with some friends from UNF's bio-reef engineering club for a while, i'd probably be doing it still if i hadnt moved, but i dont have a car so i cant anymore... I got a cut but alot went into the clubs accounts for research in the bio-lab, so im not sure what they were charging.
Ryan