Average profit yearly?

[Freakie_frog]

We're upside down.. right now.. With over 5K in purchases since Jan and an investment of over 12K over the last three years. On top of building a Rat barn, adding racks ect also must be taken into account.

Puls theres the revolving expence of the rats and the growing expence of hatching babys.

[Spaniard]

I knew I saw a great post by Neil relating to this a while ago...it took some digging but I found it!

I can give you a quick breakdown of my business.

I produce around 750 balls a year, plus some colubrids (300 - 400), some boa's, some retics (this year hopefully). I do around $500,000 a year in total sales, not bad for working at home with animals I love. HOWEVER my costs are huge.

$1,000 a week in rodents
$800 a month in utilities
$1,000 a month in advertising / show expenses
$10,000 a year with superior
$10,000 a year in upgrading / adding new racks
$20,000 this year in moving costs
$30,000 a year minimum in upgrading my own collection with new animals.

I make more than enough for a comfortable living and pay all of my bills without much trouble however I don't really pay myself for my time. I have not been on a real vacation in 8 or 9 years. I'll be honest, I don't put anywhere near enough money away for retirement and live fairly frugally.

I've got money in the bank, but again with such high overhead, one or two bad months could drain saving really quickly as my overhead does not change even in the winter when I'm no longer really have anything to sell.

[Jason Bowden]

Hobbies are expensive.
I guess it depends what you intend to do.
If you want to supply the world's pet trade with snakes, you could make a living at it. I'm sure Brian and Lisa at BHB make a good living at it. I think Ralph Davis has a construction business and his wife has a salon(not saying he doesn't make big $ being the ball python king).
I've probably spent more than 20 grand on the hobby over the past 6 years. My baby snake sells maybe 5 grand(UHHHHH and my wife got all the 5 grand/ how does that work???????). No regrets!!! My wife and I enjoy the hobby!!! We have a "small" collection(about 20 snakes/the # is ever changing).

[waltah!]

Rich, I remembered the post and couldn't for the life of me remember who posted it. He summed it up very well.

[Clear]

I knew I saw a great post by Neil relating to this a while ago...it took some digging but I found it!

500,000 - 143600(expenses he listed) = $356,400

Thats enough profit to hire people to help around and also take a vacation. If he is living frugal and say his expenses 20% higher I dont see where he is hurting?

[Spaniard]

500,000 - 143600(expenses he listed) = $356,400

Thats enough profit to hire people to help around and also take a vacation. If he is living frugal and say his expenses 20% higher I dont see where he is hurting?

I don't know since I'm not Neil but I would imagine there are other expenses in there that he did not list. Perhaps savings, mortgage, retirement funds, I know he keeps a lot of farm animals as well.

Who are we to judge anyway?

[twistedtails]

You are busting open a nice can of worms here.....I posted a thread along the same lines and it produced some well rooted opinions. Have a look at my thread and you might get the answer your looking for. It has a poll also

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=92488

[kellysballs]

We are in the red and have been for the last 3 years. We will probably make it to the black this year if I stop buying more snakes.

For us it went from business to hobby to obsession

Honestly dont get into it for the money, get into it for the fun!

[Freakie_frog]

I don't know since I'm not Neil but I would imagine there are other expenses in there that he did not list. Perhaps savings, mortgage, retirement funds, I know he keeps a lot of farm animals as well.

Who are we to judge anyway?

also things like insurance, cost of travel to do shows, paper consumables, TAXES!!!,

[twistedtails]

also things like insurance, cost of travel to do shows, paper consumables, TAXES!!!,

TAXES!!!!!