Setting up an Aquarium Maintenance Business
Part IV: Tips and Tidbits
by Jay Shaw
Aquarticles
Well, if you've read the first three instalments of this series, you should be off to a
good start. Nothing is ever carved in stone. You will find your own way to conduct
business and develop you own systems and maintenance schedules. These are a few handy tips
and suggestions that may make things a little easier.
1. If you have a computer, make use of it. Most of your customers will have a computer
and it makes for a great way to communicate. E-mail is a wonderful way to contact your
customers, send them invoices, and allow them to ask questions when you're not in their
area.
2. Set-up each of your clients with their own maintenance tools. It's much easier and
healthier to supply each system with its own equipment. Some clients may want to do a
little touch up in between visits. Just be sure to instruct them properly on tool usage.
3. Teach your clients and their employees about feeding and the filter system. Show
them what to do in an emergency and teach them to recognise problems before they get out
of hand. Always train at least two employees on feeding methods.
4. Keep your customers up to date on the system and any changes you make. Never allow
things to become a surprise. Clients tend to frown on sudden changes made without their
consent.
5. Invest in maintenance tools that are easy to use and which do not create a mess.
Water changes with a 5-gallon bucket are an accident waiting to happen! Find methods which
are user friendly and clean.
6. Control algae. It is your clients' number one concern. A dirty tank delivers the
wrong message to your clients' customers. Use fish species, lighting control, feeding
programs and good removal tools. Algae is your number one enemy. (Say it over and over in
your head!).
7. Be patient! Not everyone will have the understanding of aquatics that you do. Things
that are simple to you may be more difficult for others to understand. Try to become well
versed in basic principles; you will be explaining them over and over. Treat everyone with
respect; you may be talking to one of your client's valued customers!!
8. Fish deaths are a part of this business. Learn to be sympathetic but firm. Some fish
deaths are unforeseeable, while others are preventable. Work out a fish replacement system
and stick to it. Replacing a few fish for free is no big deal, replacing a whole tank's
worth is!!
9. Try to keep up to date on new products and fish species. Don't be afraid to try new
things, it's the only way you will advance your skills. Invest in some good books and
magazines; they will become useful for reference.
10. Please do not take the aquarium maintenance business lightly and don't undersell
your skills. I still consider myself a novice, but command $20 per hour, which is a
competitive rate compared to other services in town.
"Your judgements and decisions will dictate your success."
I have a new client who recently went through some rough times with his tanks. I spent
about three hours of my own time trying to figure things out and get all the systems up
and running. I did not create these systems and I found them very frustrating to work
with. I wanted nothing more than to get rid of the existing mess and start over. If I had
done this, I may have worked myself out of a job. Instead I made improvements on the
system, replaced old equipment and restored the tanks to a healthy state. My client was
very grateful and I earned the respect of a new client. Sometimes you may need to bend a
little to gain more business.
I hope you have enjoyed this series and that it will help you develop your own
maintenance business.
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