Goldfish and aquarium supplies shop

Families buying a first fish, hobbyists keeping fancy goldfish, and people replacing equipment or topping up supplies.

Margin on live fish, plus higher-value sales of tanks, filters and regular supplies. Repeat purchases of food, water conditioners and filter media add steady income.

• Knowledge of fish care and water quality
• Customer service and patient advice
• Basic stock control and retail skills

• Rules on selling live animals and on which fish species may be sold differ by province, so check with your provincial ministry and municipality
• Commercial general liability insurance and cover for stock loss from power cuts or equipment failure
• Business licence and zoning for a retail premises, plus GST/HST registration once you pass the small supplier threshold
• Fish health and losses, which need good quarantine routines and reliable suppliers
• Winter deliveries of live fish, which need careful temperature control
• Electricity and water costs, plus staff wages (WCB/WSIB rules vary by province) if you hire

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $25,000 to $90,000 CAD, depending on the premises you rent, the tanks and display equipment you install and the amount of fish and supplies you stock at opening.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on location, the range you stock and opening hours. Fish losses from disease or equipment failure can affect your results, so quarantine routines matter.

Rules on selling live animals and which fish species may be sold differ by province, so check with your provincial ministry and municipality. Also check business licensing, zoning, GST/HST registration and insurance that covers stock loss from power cuts.