Aquacultured coral site

[Brock Fluharty]

I am thinking of getting a good supply of my ricordeas, by propogating them, and then setting up a site on the internet that sells them for cheaper than anyone else. Slowly I may move up to different types of corals, but for now, I think that the ricordeas are the easiest to frag. PM me if you have any ideas or would like to help!





(P.S. this will be a little while from now...)

[nanoman123]

www.garf.org tells you about fragging, and business :).


~Matt~

[Brock Fluharty]

I got it up and running if you guys wanna check it out...

http://www.freewebs.com/brockfluharty/index.htm

Everyone from CF and www.seahorse.org gets a 20% discount. There are some regulations. Just look at the bottom of the home page.

[Geoffrey3029]

Nice little site you have there. You might try selling a few on ebay to test your priceing, shipping, and salesmenship. It costs minimal but you would have more eyes on your product for a startup company. You could even refer to other products on your home site in your ebay posting. Please refer to ebay policy to determin how far you can push this limmit.

[FishinInTheDark]

Very nice job, Brock. I like how you advocate aquaculture. The only thing that jumped out at me is that you're selling caulerpa. Caulerpa is illegal in some states, so you'll need to be careful where you ship.

Again, great job!

[Brock Fluharty]

It is? I will do a google search, and see where it can be shipped to, and cannot. I am not sure if the caulerpa is aquacultured (can it be?), because I got it for free from my LFS, but It has been growing in my tank so I am selling whatever grows.

[FishinInTheDark]

There's a pretty good caulerpa thread here. I'll go look for it. . .

[FishinInTheDark]

http://www.coralforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2404

[Brock Fluharty]

Is it all caulerpa, or just taxifolia? I can only find info on taxifolia. Do you have a link?

[Brock Fluharty]

Oh, thanks!

[FishinInTheDark]

It's all caulerpa in California, and maybe Florida, I can't remember. It's all in that thread. Taxifolia is prohibited nationwide.

[Brock Fluharty]

Someone on www.seahorse.org just told me that I have to have a business license, and have to register my website name and stuff. Is this true? I have to do all that to sell stuff I already have?

[FishinInTheDark]

I'll have to defer that question. No clue here. Sorry.

[Brock Fluharty]

They also just said, that since I am 13, it is illegal for me to own, or operate my own "business". Is it really considered a business when I am selling my own personal belongings? maybe i'll just shut the site down and go to eBay...

[FishinInTheDark]

Read the eBay rules. You may need to have your parents back you there. You can work around it, I'm sure.

[jenny2]

I like your site.

[Brock Fluharty]

Thanks.

[reefpaddler]

Havve you sold anything yet and if so, how healthy did it arrive via priority mail? I may be instrested in some in the future.

[Brock Fluharty]

I have not sold anything yet, but I have recieved some coral frags via priority mail. They were fine, and very healthy.

[gman0526]

The thing is that since you're making a "profit", running a bussiness, state and federal taxes might apply. Nontheless, like Conni said I admire that you want to start your own bussiness and are doing so by promoting acquaculture. Kudos to you :thumbsup:

[maxwellwhothunk]

well yes and no.. on ebay, you cant. Unless you have your parents just set up the account for you etc.

But you also need to open up a business, and to do this you will also need to legally tax items sold in your state (and it is being faught in the legal system whether or not people sitting in one state should have to pay the sales tax of another state, even if they are sitting at their home computer)

But to charge tax, you will need a sales and use tax license, you can get one (here in WI it costs $20) and you just sign up on the Dept of Rev website, it took me, maybe 30 min to complete it.

Legally if you do any sales INCLUDING rummage sales you should have a tax license... but states are leneant on that usually... but to aviod the IRS etc... your better off spending the 20$ to get a license.
Just remember to charge tax. I am not sure if you have to be over 18 to do this, just because its not legally binding, you dont have to continue business, but you do HAVE to pay the taxes. Your better off having you parents be the 'owners' for now, while you just use their names, and roll in the revenue you earn... ;)

Goodluck

[maxwellwhothunk]

ok, and a few tips for you. Any money you earn is also applicable to local taxes. But here are some things you can do to save you that money.

Well I guess there is just one tip... lol
1)Spend the money you make in the tax year, by investing back into your company. After the deductions you will be at a loss (be careful after a few years at a loss the IRS will get suspicious), but as long as you are being smart, that shouldnt be a problem.

So spend the money on an actual web site, people will feel more secure.

Buy a 3 mp camera or higher, those photos are lack luster and you want your business image to look better than that.

well goodluck,
Max

[maxwellwhothunk]

oh yeah for good web hosting... the best/cheapest I have found is www.1and1.com

[jman785]

Brock Fluharty,

You can get around it by simply saying your selling off some polyps that dropped...and if anymore drop you'll sell them as well via the website, rather than showing pictures of the ricordea we 'sell'. :) I'm sure no one will be out to get ya on that one...and I do believe you can have a business license pending state regulations, even if you are 13...you'll have to get your folks to check on that, as Conni has previously said :) Good luck.

[jman785]

They also just said, that since I am 13, it is illegal for me to own, or operate my own "business". Is it really considered a business when I am selling my own personal belongings? maybe i'll just shut the site down and go to eBay...

That's ridiculous I'm pretty sure there isn't anything saying you can't pull a business license unless your 18 or something....if there does happen to be where you live maybe you could get your parents to get the license for you :)

It isn't a business really brock, but you need to watch the way you word all of your items and you can get away with it legally...if you need help with that, let me know.