Submitted by John C on 8/26/99. ( taxidermist118@hotmail.com ) 204.180.103.87
Here is where you learn the business end. You work say 8 hours per day at your regular job. Come home who will pay you time and a half for the extra work you are going to do? Your customer/client, right? It takes about 8 hours to do a deer-head even at $9.00 per hour. 50% of this goes straight to the goverment for taxes, so you mad about $40.00 for eight hour work, what did your family do in this time? Did you miss time with the kids and WIFE!!!????? YES YES YES. Think the wife will not be jealous? NO NO NO.
here is a break down.
$25.00 form
$35.00 tanning
$ 8.00 eyes phone checking in deer or what
$18.00 client time ever,listening to the same story with the $30.00 shop over head names changed. No mater how many deer the $15.00 misc supplies story is the same really!
$40.00 for labor
$40.00 fed. state and local taxes on labor.
$10.00 depreciation on shop and equipment.
$10.00 advertizing/business cards/yellow pages etc.
$30.00 profit
$30.00 for continuing education
$ 9.00 for shipping
$300.00 total cost to do a deer-head.
Now what is your spare time really worth? Would you rather be hunting, going to a kids ball game, watching you favorite show, or what?? FAMILY TIME IS SO IMPORTANT!!!!
You can spend way more than that on tapes and books, and bad reference materials. really quick.
I do ramble some in my letters, but it is to get a point across. Part-time taxidermist are missing out on FAMILY TIME.
Good luck John
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This response submitted by Bill on 8/26/99. ( ) 204.221.18.190
After nearly 4 years of doing just that we have decided that the kids and our time is much more valuable. For those that can make the plunge into full time, we're envious. Maybe someday, but not today. For now it's all hunting, trapping, fishing and doing our own work, when and how we want to!
This response submitted by Dan on 8/27/99. ( brdnfish@recorder.ca ) 206.47.98.151
You are exactly right , John. The family is the MOST important part of your life. When the kids are grown and away then it's time to do your own thing. That's why I'm a part-timer.
This response submitted by Tom on 9/9/99. ( ) 208.25.241.229
I find myself in the same boat as you. That is one way to look at it or if your family has interest in it, you can get them involved as well. My wife loves to see the final results of my deer mounts and my little girl really likes hanging out with me while I am working on the mounts. Its all in how you present it. If they have no interest in it then you should consider slowing down and be involved with them but if it something that they (your children) could learn from, I would encourage you to teach them about it. Family time does not have to be everything but taxidermy work if all parties like it.
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