The money is only part of the cost of doing business. The part that people tend to forget is the time and effort. Cost is relative the part that you can't budget for is time.
Example we have around 100+/- animals not including the hundreds of rats. It takes me (going full tilt with no interruptions) a good 2-3 hours to clean and water every one. That's once a week. Then it takes two guys the same amount of time for rats not counting the daily flood checks and what not. Then it takes about 2-3 hours a week to feed and update records. Add in the amount of time needed to answer emails, phone calls, update the web site ect, dealing with shipping and ordering supply's, even with our few animals we're looking at between 10-15 hours a week.
Add in the tens of thousands of dollars in animals and equipment, the cost of power, heat, give away's..
the cost is directly proportional to how active in the market you are.
I didn't even cover travel cost, shows, show supply's, vet visits, ware and tear on personal vehicles. All of that is a cost of doing business.
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