To get started ... needs
Note: Use this information at your own risk! Lantz Enterprises Inc (http://www.walltanks.com) assumes no responsibility.
Commercial licenses
The cost for a business license is very small. Unless you want to sell in a retail store, the price common in many areas of about $ 25 per year. In addition, you must obtain a special tax identification number for VAT purposes. To obtain a tax ID number, you mustContact local and state governments to create an account.
2 Business Essentials
or business
One of the most important steps in launching a new service is the purchase of business cards. In general, $ 75 for 5000 cards can be printed in different colors. Remember that to win in terms of attention to a potential customer of a professional looking card will reflect on your business.
or letterhead
It 'very important to maintain professionalism at allTimes. One way to do this is through your letterhead. Letterhead is often used for sales letters, business letters, sales promotion, etc. The first impression is crucial for drawing in potential customers. When targeting high-end customers, who expect a certain level of professionalism.
Other marketing tools such as brochures and displays are critical to your product to your potential customers but are not always necessary. Normally, depending on thethe quality of the brochure or advertising you choose, you can usually in the price range of $ 50 - $ 500 There are many printers and graphic designers in your area who will take care of this discovery.
Invoice or
or Appearance
The personal aspect of you and your staff is a very important detail. Formal business attire is not required to wear a shirt or a normal golf T-shirt with your name and logo. T-shirt with pocket embroidery easycosts between $ 10 and $ 12 for each shirt. Embroidered golf shirts cost about $ 15 to $ 19 per shirt.
or insurance
Do not walk in the door without any kind of liability, or damage to property insurance. It may be, no matter how careful you are during the maintenance of an aquarium, to prevent accidents happen. Nothing will end your business faster than trying a test for damaged property. Usually runs about $ 90 per month with a few variations of the types of measures that are available, it is really betterthan cure.
Liability or
It is usually a good deal, have some sort of basic liability insurance. It gives the customer and give a sense of security and increases the credibility of your company. A disclaimer to the deaths of fish and livestock losses as well as aquarium and other collateral damage caused by leaks, including the "Section of sale."
3 Marketing
The biggest challenge in creating a maintenance tank is to identify its customer base. ByThis allows a local pet store, and friends to pass your business card, you basically make them free agents. Positive contact between a potential customer and others that your service was really recommend is a priceless asset.
or Newspaper ads
Advertisement in a newspaper is considered ineffective and can be expensive. A better approach would be a catalog or brochure that you can personally drop with companies to develop potential.
Show your orName Tank
Always show your name and number somewhere on the tank. Always ask your adviser for approval of a free month of service or offer free fish. Invest in some business cards or stickers, you can count on or around your bathtub.
or Radio / TV Advertising
Or keep it spotless
Many people associate a tank spotless with a healthy environment. Do not try to argue this point. You'll have yourself a favor and promote your company as a clean, freshService.
4 Customer Service
When the search for new customers will be the most difficult aspect of the business, remain in second place. Depending on the local business can be very competitive if you are not the only supplier. Your customers happy is more than just cleaning the aquarium. It 'important that "extra mile" to go to maintain a quality service. After hours of flexible service and availability of "on demand" is critical to success.To include, for example, restaurants and other businesses often in the very late hours. During their working hours, customers do not want their customers to display a cleaning. With delay or "off hours" designed to keep customers happy and bring you over your competitors.
The availability call is important. Customers can and will be at the strangest times, you may need it so important to give them access to a pager number. Not only to schedule appointments, but to ask questions orReport a sort of state of emergency. Loss of tanks to kill large fish, you will be the first to call your customer if there is a problem with your aquarium. If not available, find someone else.
5 Aquarium Location
In considering the best options to maintain a reservoir of some factors to take into account is crucial. You want the tank of a high traffic area with the highest exposure, where it is easy to maintain, has an abundance of natural lightand without direct sunlight. More specifically, "Wall aquariums" can only be installed in non-trade within the walls.
Ask the customer on three areas they consider to choose and make a checklist. Make sure that the final position has access to power and educate the customer because certain areas may be subsequently during the preparation.
6 Working with contractors
They, in close collaboration with an entrepreneur, if you have a license. Entrepreneur in the Yellow Pages and can range from $ 50 apply to -$ 70/hour on average. Installation of the media in an existing wall requires 12 hours to fish out of nothing.
7 Services funding
If the customer wants to finance the installation, financial companies have payment plans available. 100% of the costs will be eliminated in advance of the service and the customer owes them the balance. These companies are in the yellow pages under "financial companies".
8 Choice of fish
Most "no" fish hobbyists with the struggle of fishSelection and compatibility. You need the client on the understanding of why some fish can live together to educate, and some can not. Listen to your customers and get a general idea of size and color they want. Suggest ways to help them carry out their choice of fish and professional opinion is valued.
Once you have a good idea of what they want to have some 'homework. Make a list of compatible and available for the fish tank. List an estimated price for the fish with theCustomer.
9 Service Equipment
Gather all the necessary tools to keep your service running simply and easily. Most of the tools you need in your personal equipment may find that you have acquired over the years.
You will need:
or bucket
Aquarium Siphon or cleaning (battery ones work fine)
or (Acrylic friendly) Algae scraper
or Fresh & Salt water test
or filter
drugs or fish (Melafix, Pemafix, Kich-I,Salt)
Instant Ocean Bio-Spira or (tank to start immediately)
Fish food
or 100% cotton towels
In addition to these elements would be a canister filter that can be taken from one place to another to be a good investment. You may also consider buying a laptop diatom filter for "polishing" the water tank of customers. If you do not already have these tools, you might look at a device start-up costs of $ 100 to $ 200
10 Aquarium set-up
or water
1 Fill the aquarium withpure water. Culligan large works or you should invest in an R / O units (reverse osmosis).
Add 2 to counteract the right amount of water conditioner with chlorine.
3 Add a starter or two fish.
4 Test the ammonia and nitrates.
5 In all, 2 to 5 days later pending the results of the tests, you can create more fish.
Or test the levels of ammonia and nitrates every time the tank is maintained, so that they are also aware of a problem invisible.
oWith a sudden death of fish to test the waters to see if anything has changed.
or lighting
Depending on the time customers photo of the tank ideal '"(the time the lights aquarium) varies from 2 to 4 hours for salt water and fresh water for 6-8 hours.
If algae is a problem in the tank, is usually a factor too much light. The reduction in the time of artificial lighting, 8 hours, or a little 'less necessary.
By placing the light in a timeris essential to create a controlled environment.
or temperature
Most aquarium inhabitants prefer water temperatures around 77 ° C. Typically, when the water temperature exceeds 80 ° F or below 72 ° F, a disaster is imminent. Secure the heater as directed and place a thermometer so far as possible from the heater in an area easily readable.
or filtration
Follow the instructions provided with the filter to configure the right system. The filter cleans the tankWater and provide oxygen vital to fish, so it must be left 24 hours a day.
There are three types of filtration that you must educate yourself: mechanical, chemical and biological.
or mechanical filtration (removal of debris from the water) works by passing water through a sieve, a thin piece of foam or wire through a material.
or chemical filtration runs the water through small pieces of carbon. The removed carbon molecules such as ammoniawater.
Biological filtration works or certain types of bacteria that live on the gravel and filter. These bacteria remove ammonia and nitrites from the water (see next section).
Most of the filter is mechanically and biologically, if not all three, and clean.
11.Understanding nitrogen cycle (Fish make Waste - Bacteria get rid of waste).
The biological process or filter:
1 Starter introduced fish in the aquarium.
2 ammonia from wastewater beginsbuild (toxic).
3 begin to grow bacteria that use ammonia.
Level 4 begins to decrease ammonia nitrite level constructs (toxic).
5 begin to grow bacteria that use nitrite.
6 Level of nitrite begins to rise slowly drops as the nitrate content (much less toxic).
7 The water is changed and reduced nitrates.
8 most fish are introduced.
o These bacteria are called aerobic bacteria because they need oxygen. The best way to fuel is well ventilated and havea lot of places to grow.
o A new tank is not yet ready for a full load of fish, because the biological filter is not yet built. Slowly adding fish, during the visits scheduled in the water quality of aid.
Water changes 12
The frequency of cleaning or
You want to make a water change of 20% every two weeks. This would be a partial cleaning. If the customer prefers less frequent visits, a 30% water change every three weeks, but will cost more. A large water change is onlynecessary if the tank has not been cleaned for a long time.
Clean your aquarium in the following order:
1 Inside the walls of the aquarium
2 Decorations (rocks, plants, etc.)
Gravel 3
4 Filter
5 Outside of furniture and office equipment
Cleaning the interior walls will fall to dust particles on the decorations and gravel plants, so it is best to clean them first. The removal of plants and decorations cause debris to fall to the ground, so hold off cleaning the gravelUntil the plants and decorations have been removed. In addition, the gravel is much easier to clean when the plants and stones were removed. Cleaning the inside of the tank will cause the outside to maintain, clean the exterior.
Algae Pad
Begin the process of cleaning with a good cleaning, the acrylic on the inside. All you need is an algae scraper acrylic or a sponge. There are a variety of algae scrapers on the market of long-handled scrubbers to magneticScrubber. Buy your scrapper algae in a pet store instead of a kitchenware shop store regularly. Even though the pads may look the same, which can have a soap or chemical residue in them from the manufacturing process. Does not affect the rest of the kitchen sink, but you can leave a film mortal in your aquarium.
For particularly stubborn residue on the sides, with a special plastic razor blade, razor scratches acrylic standards.
Bleach
Once the interior walls areclean, remove any rocks, artificial plants and decorations, the significant growth of algae, or are very polluted. Do not clean with soap or detergent. It 'very difficult to completely remove the soap, and even the slightest trace can be lethal to fish. Removal is usually a good scrub with an algae scraper, algae and dirt from the rocks and plants. For particularly stubborn cleaning problems, prepare a 10% bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) and enjoy the elements15 minutes. Scrub off any residue, rinse well under running water and air dry to remove residual bleach. Leave the 'decorations rocks and plants from the tank while you vacuum the gravel. Stir in this way, neither of dirt from the gravel on them settle.
Get a new bucket and designate it for aquarium use only. With a bucket that has been preserved with household chemicals can lead to loss of fish.
Siphon
CleanNext to an empty aquarium gravel siphon away the debris in a bucket. There are several types of siphons available, all basically the same job. Make sure all the gravel at the bottom so that all deposits were removed under reduced pressure.
Clean glass and lime
After the inside of the tank is clean, hood, l ', tank light and glass to be removed. Use only cleaning products you use, as described aquarium safe. Normal glass cleaners contain ammonia, which is toxic to fish.Standard cleaning lime are even more toxic. Use secure means of washing and cleaning the aquarium. Do not rub the acrylic with paper towels or a wood product. Use a 100% cotton T-shirt or a towel.
Cleaning the filter
After doing a partial cleaning and has been four weeks since the last time the filter clean, it's time to clean it again. If you have a large water change, you might want to wait until the next visit, to clean the filter. The reason for this is invisible to the naked eye. The most important cleaningJust follow the bacterial colonies on plants, rocks and gravel is disturbed. Fortunately, a significant number of beneficial bacteria in the filter medium in the sense that you do not live completely upset the ecosystem. However, if you change the filter at the same time, you could end up with a significant increase in ammonia levels due to the lack of beneficial bacteria. For this reason, we recommend to give pause before the tank to clean the filters.
Inmost cases, the filter will have the means containing carbon, ammonia, or shock absorbers and ion exchange resins must be replaced when there is more than four weeks. Exhausted after a couple of weeks the absorbing qualities in the media, and there are colonies of bacteria elsewhere enough to compensate for the removal. If you use two filters, one for each visit clean.
The package should include the installation, Aquascaping, filling the tank with water, and clean the fish aquarium for the firstMonth. They must offer a discount of 50-10% with a given 6-month maintenance contract as a "Purchase Agreement" example.
or additional costs
Their costs are based on competition and demographics. The fees suggested below and must be set in your region.
Service programs are:
or bi-monthly scheduled visits (which can be tailored to meet their customers)
Change or water (see Water Changes)
or delivery of equipment, accessories and environmentalrequested by the customer
o Advice for Free
Fish Tank or makeovers
Fish stocking
or equipment replacement / upgrade
o Improve water quality
o The medical treatment of fish diseases
16.Sales procedure
Set aside specific hours or days a week for sales and to respect the calendar. During this time you approach companies and introduce yourself, and the product line.
If the customer wants to finance a package or service, contact "FinanceSociety "(see Finance Company) and completed the work before receiving the payment.
17 The concerns of clients and frequently asked questions
Concern: I do not have enough money right now to cover the price of the package.
Answer: No problem, the entire amount may be financed, and there is a tax depreciation for business customers.
Concern: I do not want you to clean the aquarium in front of my customers.
Answer: No problem, we can come out of working time isbusiness customers.
Question: How do you get access to the tank for cleaning, if the wall?
Answer: The access is under the picture-frame border style or access panel, which flies from the top to hide.
Question: How do I turn provides an in-wall aquarium?
Answer: A power outlet is mounted in the wall in front of the aquarium.
Question: How will the fish to eat when I'm on vacation?
Answer: An automatic feeder to feed the fish up to twoWeeks for freshwater fish. We can also supply holiday.
Question: What happens if the losses of the tank?
Answer: 'extremely rare, but it is under manufacturer's warranty for one year.
18 Tips
These are some practical tips and hints that things may be a little 'easier.
1 If you have a computer, use it. Most of your customers will have a computer and makes it a great way to communicate. E-mail is a wonderful way to contact you, sendyour accounts and allow them to ask questions if you are not in their area.
2 Bring your clients and their employees serving food and the filtering system. Show them what to do in an emergency, and teach them how to recognize problems before they spiral out of control. Always train at least two employees of feeding methods.
3 Keeping you informed the system and any changes you so far. Never leave things that are a surprise. Customers tend to frown, without changestheir consent.
4 Investing in maintenance tools that are easy to use and do not create chaos. Water changes with a 5-gallon bucket is a case that happens. Finding methods that are easy to use and clean.
5 The control of algae. And 'your first customers. A dirty tank delivers the wrong message to your customers 'customers'. Use fish species, lighting control, good nutrition programs and removal tools. Remember, these tanks are acrylic and scratch if rubbedwith an abrasive material. Use 100% cotton towels instead of paper towels. Paper towels are a wood product and can be used in acrylic.
6 Great customer service means patience. Not everyone is understanding the aquarium, you do. Things that could simply be too difficult to understand for others. Try to be proficient in basic principles, it has been said over and over again. Treat everyone with respect, you can talk to one of your customers to evaluateCustomers.
7 fish kills are a part of this business. Learning to be sympathetic, but firm. Some dead fish are not predictable, while others are avoidable. Develop a system to replace fish and stick to it. Replace any fish is a big problem for free, everything is a tank replaced.
8 Try to keep up to date with new products and fish species. Do not be afraid to try new things that move, is the only way to develop your skills. Invest in some good books and magazines, it is usefulReference.
