Starting a 'business"

Is it as easy as opening a facebook page and selling babies?

Here are things I have already ticked off the typical list:
1. Incubator
2. Hatchling rack
3. Food for hatchlings
4. Breeding stock

Once breeding has taken place, eggs are in the "oven" or you have babies waiting is it just so simple as to begin selling?

Websites, for the majority, can be optional in my book. Many people are moving over to facebook and facebook groups to sell, so I'm no AS concerned about that though it would bean eventuality. I'm speaking more on...start up costs.

-business logo
-trade marking of business name?

We're working on a name right now, and that will lead into a logo. May get my talented wife to draw something up. ;)


As I learned, you're not allowed to trade mark or copy right business names. You can incorporate but then no one in your state can have it.

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i didn't know you were married. lol

on topic- i know a website isn't exactly necessary, but i didn't even have a facebook until a couple months ago, and i visited breeders non-FB webpages all the time. having an actual website and posting to non FB classifieds will have you reaching a much broader audience.. and i don't know what it is, (subconscious possibly) but something about a slick, well-designed webpage screams professionalism to me. if two people had no known reputation in the hobby and were selling a snake i wanted of similar quality, but one was selling on facebook alone and the other had a nice webpage, i'd be more likely to go with the one with the webpage. every little bit helps when you're running a primarily internet based business. my 2 cents.

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Originally Posted by TheSnakeGeek

i didn't know you were married. lol

on topic- i know a website isn't exactly necessary, but i didn't even have a facebook until a couple months ago, and i visited breeders non-FB webpages all the time. having an actual website and posting to non FB classifieds will have you reaching a much broader audience.. and i don't know what it is, (subconscious possibly) but something about a slick, well-designed webpage screams professionalism to me. if two people had no known reputation in the hobby and were selling a snake i wanted of similar quality, but one was selling on facebook alone and the other had a nice webpage, i'd be more likely to go with the one with the webpage. every little bit helps when you're running a primarily internet based business. my 2 cents.

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Yes I agree a well put together web page is necessary. Looks more professional and they are not all that difficult. If you go with a web page please remember to keep it updated. One pet peeve if mine is "available" pages (on anything not just bps) that is way outdated, if I'm looking in 2013 I don't wanna see what was available in 2010.

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Well, you had me confused at "Business"

If its a legit business you need to register with the government and go through the proper channels to obtain business and tax numbers as well as import/export #'s if you choose to do that.

As far as a Facebook page and/or website - neither are going to do much for you unless you're going to maintain them. All to often I see Facebook pages with 5 photos and 17 friends and wonder.... is that really helping you? On that same note, a website with no SEO that sits on page 17 of Google... what's the point?

I'd focus on breeding stellar snakes, making connections with people through forums, expos and word of mouth. A business starts at the bottom, and the bottom doesn't include fancy websites, Facebook pages, logos etc. Invest your time and money into your operations, don't waste it on the fancy stuff until you've made enough cash to pad your bottom line.

Just my opinion. Either way - goodluck :gj:

Web presence is important, even if it's just a Facebook page for your business. The trick is to keep things in order/updated ;)

Of course you have the option to incorporate or not incorporate. There are benefits and drawbacks for forming something like an LLC. A lot of it depends on how you want to be taxed and if you want your assets separate from your business in the event of you getting sued or something.

Great points so far, guys.

Yes, Creepin. I'm married and I'm expecting a son too. :p

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Originally Posted by Rickys_Reptiles

Well, you had me confused at "Business"

If its a legit business you need to register with the government and go through the proper channels to obtain business and tax numbers as well as import/export #'s if you choose to do that.

As far as a Facebook page and/or website - neither are going to do much for you unless you're going to maintain them. All to often I see Facebook pages with 5 photos and 17 friends and wonder.... is that really helping you? On that same note, a website with no SEO that sits on page 17 of Google... what's the point?

I'd focus on breeding stellar snakes, making connections with people through forums, expos and word of mouth. A business starts at the bottom, and the bottom doesn't include fancy websites, Facebook pages, logos etc. Invest your time and money into your operations, don't waste it on the fancy stuff until you've made enough cash to pad your bottom line.

Just my opinion. Either way - goodluck :gj:

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Yes," business" was perhaps a bad way to word it. However, we don't necessarily have to incorporate and get tax numbers if it's under a certain profit amount and list it as hobby income on our personal taxes
(I believe).

Of course we'd be going to shows and talking with people, I'd be making sure we had a good online presence. I'm fairly familiar with fauna posting, I forgot to mention that.

Besides drumming out a nice website, I'm not seeing a lot of start up costs.

Thanks for the advice guys! Keep it rolling!


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Congrats on your upcoming son!!!
Biggest start up is housing and the breeders

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Originally Posted by Crazymonkee

Congrats on your upcoming son!!!
Biggest start up is housing and the breeders

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Thanks! Yeah, I figured that would be the biggest cost and me and my potential partner have nice collections with a healthy mix of males and females.

He's got experience breeding and incubating, and I'm hoping to learn a lot as well as have a good time. It's just convincing said unknown wife that it's not any or very little start up costs.

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If you haven't already done so, I'd sit down and write up a business plan. Doesn't have to be fancy and certainly isn't set in stone, but I'd jot down your ideas and vision for the type of business you want to run. Are you going to specialize in certain morphs and be known for that? How many snakes do you plan on keeping as part of your breeding program? Where do you see the business in a couple years? What are you short term / long term goals? Of course the answers to these questions change over time, but if you start out with a general idea of where you are and where you would like to get to from a business standpoint you are more likely to get there.

Remember - there are bonuses to running a legit business such as write offs. If you work out of your home you could write off some of your mortgage, taxes, utilities etc.. At tax time this can make a pretty big difference.

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Originally Posted by Kodieh

Yes," business" was perhaps a bad way to word it. However, we don't necessarily have to incorporate and get tax numbers if it's under a certain profit amount and list it as hobby income on our personal taxes
(I believe).

Of course we'd be going to shows and talking with people, I'd be making sure we had a good online presence. I'm fairly familiar with fauna posting, I forgot to mention that.

Besides drumming out a nice website, I'm not seeing a lot of start up costs.

Thanks for the advice guys! Keep it rolling!


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If your intent is to make money, and you can prove this to the IRS, there is no reason to run this as a hobby. If you make money at it, the tax consequences are the same. If you lose money, you can deduct your losses in a business, in a hobby your deductions are limited to the amount of money you take in. You can file your business on a schedule C. I'd recommend filing LLC paperwork though, or incorporating as an S-corp, oh, and get some "actual" tax advice from a tax professional.

Good luck in your endeavor.:gj:

I'm completely with you guys on it, and I think the last quote I got online was like around 150 to get an LLC.

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Some other things that havent been touched on.

I'd say it is an absolute must to have:

1. A good exotic vet
2. The funds to pay for the vet.
3. At home remedies and the know how to use them for minor things
4. A seperate quarantine room for sick animals.

Your business in the market relies heavily on your reputation. If you intentionally or accidently sell sick animals to people your reputation will suffer and so will your business.

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Originally Posted by OctagonGecko729

Some other things that havent been touched on.

I'd say it is an absolute must to have:

1. A good exotic vet
2. The funds to pay for the vet.
3. At home remedies and the know how to use them for minor things
4. A seperate quarantine room for sick animals.

Your business in the market relies heavily on your reputation. If you intentionally or accidently sell sick animals to people your reputation will suffer and so will your business.

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Very true. I thought that was a given, as you should have that for even just owning animals. But yes very good to mention :)

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Yes, vet and vet funds are very important. I hadn't originally considered that but that's a major factor to cover all potential animals and not just animals currently in the collection.

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