Choosing Foundation Stock

So I am trying to make plans of what genes I want in what genders, how many animals, etc for my future breeding projects. I'm not really interested in producing the newest morph, just really nice quality color and pattern. The goal is to create Mystic Potions, BELs, Pieds, Albinos, Lavender Albinos (big maybe here, haven't decided) and various combinations. I will be looking to include enhancing genes when possible like Pastel, but they aren't required. The listed colors are my absolute favorite in ball pythons and have been for years. I'll be a small time breeder, 1 clutch a year to begin with and maybe working up to 2 clutches. Each female would be bred only every other year. I'll be keeping any unsold babies rather than wholesaling them. The whole thing is a long term project; I expect it to take me 5 years or so to buy caging, stock, growing them up, and finally breeding.

So that brings me to picking my stock. The biggest thing I'm trying to avoid is "waste", I want to avoid producing normals, % hets, mystery animals (where genes aren't clear) and single gene animals whenever possible. I'm also setting a per-animal budget for myself of around $1500; I can't personally justify more than that but I recognize that prices are generally fair and ever-changing. Lastly I'm personally choosing not to include Spider in these plans due to their neurology.

So I guess here are my questions...
1) Is there a sex ratio I should attempt to maintain or does it not matter in my situation? I have 7 possible slots for breeder animals and could sell/trade for two more spots (they're single gene pets).
2) Is there a market for animals that are 100% double hets or am I creating excess animals? For example I can't afford an Albino Piebald male. But I can afford Albino het Pied and match him with a Piebald het Albino female. This would produce 25% chance of non-visual double hets.
3) Do you think the savings in housing and feeding are worth trying to get 3 gene animals for mixing and matching?
4) What pattern modifying genes are out there that would help enhance pieds, albinos, and animals of the BEL complex?
5) If you have suggestions on exact animals to choose I'm all ears.

There is so much here that I can't begin to address it all. I will just make a couple comments that may help. If you buy animals that are already visuals, it will reduce the number of non-hets or p-hets you produce. However, you wont know exactly what will be thrown when just a single gene animal is produced until you have babies. By then it's too late to change your mind. Hopefully it will be to you liking.

By way of example, if you buy a BEL you have an all white snake. Is it a Mojo X Mojo, a Lesser X Mojo, or het Russo X het Russo? What did the animals that were paired to produce the BEL look like? Where they great examples of the single gene morph, meh examples, or poor examples? any combination will still produce a BEL. If what you want is true quality then you have to either start with great examples of the base genes you want or at least be able to get evidence from the breeder that the parents were suitable examples.

As far as ratios, you need girls to have eggs, but males can spread the wealth around to multiple partners. Again it depends on what you want to produce and how many instances of the gene you need to get the results you seek. That should give you a bit to chew on. Best of luck to you.

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1) Is there a sex ratio I should attempt to maintain or does it not matter in my situation? I have 7 possible slots for breeder animals and could sell/trade for two more spots (they're single gene pets).

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While I have males that will breed any females paired to I like to keep a 1.4 / 1.5 ratio

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2) Is there a market for animals that are 100% double hets or am I creating excess animals? For example I can't afford an Albino Piebald male. But I can afford Albino het Pied and match him with a Piebald het Albino female. This would produce 25% chance of non-visual double hets.

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Yes there is now the hardest part is to be able to sell them, having a reputation helps, if people do not know you selling Hets or Double hets can be a lot more tricky, I always sell out of hets and double hets I produce.

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3) Do you think the savings in housing and feeding are worth trying to get 3 gene animals for mixing and matching?

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Always get the most gene you can afford to produce higher end combos and limit the production of normals

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4) What pattern modifying genes are out there that would help enhance pieds, albinos, and animals of the BEL complex?

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Leopard, Enchi, Pinstripe, Spider, Black Pastel.

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5) If you have suggestions on exact animals to choose I'm all ears.

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It's up to YOU chose what YOU like, you will be the one caring and looking at those animals, not anyone else.