Exotic birds are raised for resale in a commercial aviary. A bird breeder, also known as an avian breeder, may manage a modest home aviary with just one breeding pair or a multi-million dollar purpose-built aviary with hundreds of staff. A commercial aviary may sell to individual consumers at retail prices or conduct a breeding programme to sell wholesale to established pet retailers.
Table of Contents
Follow these ten steps to start a commercial aviary:
Make plans for your Commercial Aviary.
Make your Commercial Aviary a Legal Entity.
Tax registration for your commercial aviary
Create a Business Bank Account and a Credit Card
Create an accounting system for your commercial aviary.
Obtain the Required Permits and Licenses for Your Commercial Aviary
Purchase Commercial Aviary Insurance.
Create a Commercial Aviary Brand
Make a website for your commercial aviary.
Configure your Business Phone System
Starting a company entails more than just registering it with the state. We’ve put up this basic guide to getting started with your commercial aviary. These stages will guarantee that your new company is well-planned, correctly registered, and legally compliant.
STEP 1: Make a business plan.
A well-thought-out strategy is vital for entrepreneur success. It will assist you in mapping out the intricacies of your organisation and uncovering some unknowns. Consider the following crucial topics:
What are the initial and continuing expenses?
Who is your intended audience?
How much money may you charge your customers?
Fortunately, we have done a lot of the legwork for you.
What are the expenses of establishing a commercial aviary?
The expenses of establishing a commercial aviary company vary based on the size and kind of operation you want to establish. The cost of establishing a small scale home commercial aviary raising a single pair of parakeets is significantly lower than the cost of establishing a big aviary breeding exotic birds, but the chance of generating a profit with a larger facility is much more plausible.
You will need at least one healthy breeding pair, two or three good-sized cages, a nesting box, a brooder, hand feeding utensils, food, and other supplies. This is in addition to the most expensive aspect of bird raising: the avian vet.
A permit: The criteria for keeping birds for profit vary by state. Most states in the United States restrict the types and numbers of birds that may be raised without a licence. Licenses typically cost roughly $100 and are valid for many years before having to be renewed.
A breeding pair: A good breeding pair may range in price from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars. It all depends on the species, the breeders’ quality, and the breeders’ ages.
A nesting box: Nesting boxes may be found for less than a hundred dollars online.
A cage: Depending on the size, cages may cost anywhere from $100 to hundreds of dollars. If your cage will be outdoors, you will need to include the cost of a heater and a shade covering.
Food should not cost more than one dollar per day per bird. Purchase quality food designed exclusively for breeders of the same species. Bowls, water dispensers, hand feeding equipment, and snacks are all included in the food budget, albeit at a low cost.
A brooder: A whole store-bought brooder box may cost over $500, but if you have basic carpentry abilities, you can create your own brooder for about $100.
An avian veterinarian: This is the most expensive recurring expenditure connected with bird rearing. A professional avian vet will charge hundreds of dollars for a routine check-up, and catastrophic injuries or illnesses might cost thousands of dollars in medical expenses.
What are the continuing costs of running a commercial aviary?
The most expensive continuous expenditures are vet bills, food, and power.
Who is the intended audience?
Individuals wishing to buy a bird as a pet or huge pet stores looking to buy birds in quantity are the greatest clients, depending on the size of the commercial aviary. While retail buyers will pay more for each bird, retail selling necessitates far more promotion to find customers.
How can a commercial aviary generate revenue?
Selling birds to people and pet shops is how a commercial aviary gets money.
How much money may you charge your customers?
The price of a bird depends on the species, whether it was hand-reared, the local market, and how much your consumer is willing to spend.
What kind of profit can a commercial aviary make?
According to the US Department of Labor, a bird breeder might make between $18,000 and $57,000 per year.
How can you increase the profitability of your company?
Commercial aviaries may increase their profits by selling food and supplies to those who already own birds. There is extra compensation for anyone who are ready to care for clients’ birds while they are away.
STEP 2: Establish a legal entity
Sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation are the most frequent business structure forms.
Creating a formal company organisation, such as an LLC or corporation, shields you from personal liability if your commercial venture is sued.
STEP 3: File your taxes
Before you can begin for business, you must register for a number of state and federal taxes.
To register for taxes, you will need to get an EIN. It’s really simple and completely free!
Taxes on Small Businesses
Depending on the business form you choose, you may have multiple choices for how your company is taxed. Some LLCs, for example, may benefit from being taxed as a S company (S corp).
These guides will teach you more about small company taxes:
Taxes on LLCs
LLC vs. sole proprietorship
Corporation vs. LLC
S Corp vs. LLC
How to Form a S Corporation
S Corporation vs. C Corporation
There may be state taxes that apply to your company. In our state sales tax guides, you may learn more about state sales taxes and franchise taxes.
STEP 4: Establish a company bank account and credit card
Personal asset protection requires the use of distinct business banking and credit accounts.
When you combine your personal and business accounts, your personal assets (your house, vehicle, and other possessions) are at danger if your company is sued. This is known as penetrating your company veil in business law.
Furthermore, understanding how to develop corporate credit may help you get credit cards and other financing in your company’s name (rather than your own), lower interest rates, larger lines of credit, and other benefits.
Establish a business bank account.
Opening a business bank account is not only required when asking for business financing, but it also:
Separates your personal assets from the assets of your firm, which is required for personal asset protection.
It simplifies bookkeeping and tax reporting.
Create a net 30 account.
Net 30 accounts are used to develop and grow company credit while also increasing cash flow. Businesses use a net 30 account to purchase items and refund the whole debt within a 30-day period.
Many net 30 credit suppliers submit information to the main business credit agencies (Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Business Credit). This is how firms establish business credit in order to get approved for credit cards and other lines of credit.
Apply for a business credit card.
Obtaining a business credit card benefits you in the following ways:
Put all of your company’s costs in one location to separate personal and business spending.
Build your company’s credit history, which will be important for raising funds in the future.
STEP 5: Establish business accounting
Recording your numerous costs and sources of revenue is crucial to assessing your company’s financial status. Keeping precise and thorough accounting also makes yearly tax filing much easier.
STEP 6: Obtain all required permissions and licences
Failure to get appropriate permissions and licences may result in significant penalties or possibly the closure of your firm.
Requirements for State and Local Business Licensing
An avian breeder licence is required in the majority of states. Certain state permissions and licences may be required to run a commercial aviary. Visit the SBA’s reference to state licences and permits to learn more about licencing requirements in your state.
For additional information on local licences and permissions, please visit:
Check with the clerk’s office in your town, city, or county.
Contact one of the local organisations mentioned in the US Small Business Associations database of local business resources for help.
For information on local licences and permissions, visit:
Check with the clerk’s office in your town, city, or county.
Contact one of the local organisations mentioned in the US Small Business Associations database of local business resources for help.
Service Contract
Before beginning a new project, commercial aviary enterprises might consider asking customers to sign a service agreement. By defining payment terms and conditions, service level expectations, and intellectual property ownership, this agreement should clarify client expectations and reduce the likelihood of legal problems. Here’s an example of a service contract.
When you join up for Rocket Lawyer’s premium membership, you can easily write a professional service agreement for your commercial aviary company. Members have access to hundreds of legal agreements and on-call lawyers for free legal assistance for $39.95 each month.
Consignment Contract
When working with bird breeders, it is usually a good idea to establish a standard contract that specifies the terms and circumstances under which you may sell their particular species of bird. This arrangement is also known as a consignment agreement.
A consignment agreement may be used to demonstrate how the bird is sold while preserving an agreed-upon payment to the owner. This provides awareness for both breeders and the animals, who benefit from enhanced publicity in order to be acquired more effectively.
Waiver of Liability
It is recommended to give clients with informed consent agreements in order to reduce legal responsibility in the event of damage and to promote transparency.
STEP 7: Obtain commercial insurance.
Insurance, like licences and permits, is required for your company to operate safely and legally. In the case of a covered loss, business insurance protects your company’s financial well-being.
There are several sorts of insurance plans designed for various types of companies with varying risks. If you are unaware about the hazards that your company may encounter, start with General Liability Insurance. This is the most popular coverage required by small companies, so it’s a good place to start for yours.
STEP 8: Establish your brand
Your company’s brand is what it stands for, as well as how the public perceives it. A strong brand will help your company stand out from the crowd.
How to Market and Promote a Commercial Aviary
The ideal technique to market your company is determined by the size of your commercial aviary and the target audience. Large commercial aviaries that wish to offer birds to pet shops should make direct contact with the pet retailers. Established pet stores with a history of selling birds are unlikely to buy from a new source unless the price or assortment is much better than their present supply. Smaller breeders may get the greatest success by advertising online, visiting Bird Marts, and joining local bird enthusiast clubs.
How to Keep Customers Returning
The simplest method to acquire new clients is to provide excellent service to your current ones. Participate in and speak at local bird clubs, as well as provide advise to bird owners. Sponsor and visit local Bird Marts to become an active community member.
STEP 9: Create your company’s website.
After you’ve defined your brand and designed your logo, the next step is to build a website for your company.
While developing a website is an important step, some may be concerned that it is out of their grasp due to a lack of website-building skills. While this was a fair concern in 2015, online technology has made significant advances in recent years, making the lives of small company owners considerably easier.
The following are the primary reasons why you should not put off developing your website:
Every genuine company has a website, period. When it comes to bringing your company online, it doesn’t matter what size or sector it is.
Social media accounts, such as Facebook pages or LinkedIn company profiles, are not a substitute for your own business website.
STEP 10: Install your company phone system.
Getting a phone for your company is one of the finest methods to keep your personal and professional lives distinct and private. That isn’t the only advantage; it also helps you automate your company, provides it legitimacy, and makes it simpler for prospective clients to identify and contact you.