Business question

[tviper56]

Kraig....It DOES matter what you charge. If a person is only charging $300 dollars they are doing chitty work and making it hard for those of us who charge for quality work. Just look at all the "new" people on this site. There are several bargain taxidermists out there trying to get "started" in a "business" they have had NO formal training or experience. Just remember that you can work all day for nothing and be no farther ahead tomorrow than you were today.

[boxerpet]

All you long time professionals and new be's'
In preparing to start up a taxidermy business how much start up money would you think a taxidermist should have
Is six months or a years backup money enough?
This in addition to some sound business sense.
To many of us fail because of a need for planning.

[Kraig]

Kraig....It DOES matter what you charge. If a person is only charging $300 dollars they are doing chitty work and making it hard for those of us who charge for quality work. Just look at all the "new" people on this site. There are several bargain taxidermists out there trying to get "started" in a "business" they have had NO formal training or experience. Just remember that you can work all day for nothing and be no farther ahead tomorrow than you were today.

Tviper,
That horse is suffering from major hair slippage and is not relevant to this post.

Boxer,
A lot of variables here. Is this going to be your sole source of income or are you doing this for extra money? Do you plan to work alone or hire employees? It can take years to build a profitable taxi business.

[roundyracer]

ecently forced to retire.maybe illl learn a new approach i always get a deposit.some will change their minds.id rather go broke by myself than with help this is a want bus :'(iness not a need.I no longer take checks.id rather try to create a mount than sit in court.

[OTWGP]

We always get a deposit, 50% is requested but we also understand some customers may have a hard time with that, so put something down pay as you go, no work gets done until the full deposit is received, we also take credit card so that makes it easier too. Very rairley do we have mounts that don't get picked up, after doing taxidermy for 30 years I also figured out a little trick, they sign a paper releasing me from liability due to fire or theft and it also states that if they change their mind and want their horns, hide, pelt whatever back, the deposit is non-refundable to cover cost. worked for me but also never had anyone ask for their stuff back.

[joeym]

All you long time professionals and new be's'
In preparing to start up a taxidermy business how much start up money would you think a taxidermist should have
Is six months or a years backup money enough?
This in addition to some sound business sense.
To many of us fail because of a need for planning.

To go full time with no additional income requires some serious escrow-ed deposit money.  That amount would need to be no less than $25,000 in today's economy.  I survive because I have other investments plus a retirement income.  A one man shop grossing less than $75,000 better have a good contingency plan, because there will be times of the year when cash flow problems will occur.  I require 50% deposit on everything, from everybody.  Most corporate clients pay 100% up front when they are billed.

[roundyracer]

We always get a deposit, 50% is requested but we also understand some customers may have a hard time with that, so put something down pay as you go, no work gets done until the full deposit is received, we also take credit card so that makes it easier too. Very rairley do we have mounts that don't get picked up, after doing taxidermy for 30 years I also figured out a little trick, they sign a paper releasing me from liability due to fire or theft and it also states that if they change their mind and want their horns, hide, pelt whatever back, the deposit is non-refundable to cover cost. worked for me but also never had anyone ask for their stuff back.

Great ideal on the libility.I have a no refund policy however over the years Ive had a couple to ask for the money back.The economy here has taken the hunt out of several.

[linder]

How do you all handle a customer that you let drop off an item that doesn't have the depo. then calls to say that they want to come pick it up they cant afford it ?Do you still charge them the hole depo., or half, or just hand it over?

[ljones]

How do you all handle a customer that you let drop off an item that doesn't have the depo. then calls to say that they want to come pick it up they cant afford it ?Do you still charge them the hole depo., or half, or just hand it over?

 that would depend if you had done any work such as skinning ,capeing if so charge them , if you just baged and froze it i would just give it back to them

[OTWGP]

How do you all handle a customer that you let drop off an item that doesn't have the depo. then calls to say that they want to come pick it up they cant afford it ?Do you still charge them the hole depo., or half, or just hand it over?

You have prices for certain work done, if they left nothing and you had to cape/skin it then we charge fifty for that and they dont get it back till they pay it, or they can have their horns and leave the cape there to use as an extra or sell to get your "money" back really time but time is money these days. Some will get snippy with you some understand if they left a full deposit and it was only caped/skinned then I give them all but the 50 back. Have signs posted and them sign a paper so no other issues arise.

[FishArt]

First off, nobody STARTS full-time in this business. Everybody I know starts doing things for themselves honing their skills and gathering tools necessary to do the job. Then, you take on a few customers and that builds through the years mostly through word of mouth and doing quality work. You continually add more tools and products to your shop. Then, one day you wake up and you look at your books just for giggles and you REALIZE that you ARE a full-time taxidermist!

As far as deposits go, I like ~50%. Some repeat customers get some latitude or if they have close to 50% that's fine. For me, strictly doing fish my supply costs other than replicas/blanks and habitat are very minimal. So, for me that deposit's purpose is two-fold. One, to help guarantee that this customer won't change their mind and stiff me with their fish. And two, to help get a good portion of their costs out of the way so it is cheaper/easier for them to come up with the money when their fish is ready. There IS something to be said about taking less of a deposit to help motivate you to complete the work. I've had my moments of "burn-out" when the good deposits were coming in. But, ultimately for me the motivation to complete the work comes from the fact that I have a mortgage due the first of every month - lol! I think if you're a full service shop where you have more money out for supplies you'd want to manage that money coming in a little better than I do. I oftentimes take some big deposit months and pay off a credit card or make an extra mortgage payment. Which, actually is smart business. But, for most taxidermists with bigger supply bills and bigger overhead, this would NOT be a smart move...

[boxerpet]

Kraig,
I purposed this question for any new taxidermists with little or no business experience.
I am basically retired from doing full time taxidermy from 1965 until 2008.
Believe me there were hard times.
You have to do whatever it took, from renting animals out for advertising to selling extra skins.   
The old timers know what I mean.
Going where seminars were being given to improve your skills. Bringing things to sell or trade to finance these trips. Making contacts.
You have to use your brains.
Decide what your main items of taxidermy are going to be.
Find the best wholesalers to do the work you do not have time for or are not that confident in doing.
I made it a point not to turn away work . Solve the problem. Again make contacts.
Most new taxidermists even with schooling or some experience know little about running a business. That's why the question about how much front money is needed to plan to run your new business at least for the first year.
Employees,part time or skinners and salters may be needed but you must expect to do most things at the beginning by yourself or with family help.
Above all, lots of planning is needed in order to succeed.

[Matt]

Well, 50% deposit is the norm in my studio, but I have some very good clients that I take things in knowing they will send ck out in a few days. Building a good foundation is key, I don't care how much talent you have, if you don't have any sense in running a business, you might as well make a hobby out of it. Part of that foundation  though IS quality work, but we all had to start somewhere. Quality work is going to bring quality clients. I have seen this over the years build within my studio. I really think alot of failure is obviously not charging enough for the work and time involved in a piece. I was guilty of this and still am, but the more I raise my prices(which reminds me mine are not updated!(LOL)), the better clients I get. I have guys around me that get alot more work than I do, and they can have it. Most of them are getting the clients I really don't want. To start a business today, I would do the same thing I did 20 years ago, build a good foundation starting with some good training and a couple good business courses won't hurt either. I don't think it's any tougher today to get into this industry than it was back then, you have to offer your clients something better than the rest, and keep stepping up your game. That takes intensive study and research with the animals you have a passion for. Never be afraid to learn something, if you think you know it all 5 years into it, you are destine to fail and so will your work. Maybe I am off course now, this is always an interesting topic!(LOL)

[linder]

I get 50% down also I was just asking, And if I do take it in I explain that I'm doing this without the depo. and due to freezer space being limited I will have to cape out and will cut and clean there antler but if they decide to not go through with the mounting I still get my depo. and they have an limited time to get it to me and pick up there item. I'm starting to believe also as Matt that with higher prices you'll get better clients, I know dead beats come in all sizes and shapes but there seem to be alot more of them in the $300.00 price range than the $400.00.and up.