How to Start a Commercial Aviary

A commercial aviary raises exotic birds for resale. A bird breeder also known as an avian breeder, can run a small, backyard aviary with only one breeding pair by themselves, or may operate a multi-million dollar purpose-built aviary with dozens of employees. A commercial aviary can sell retail to individual customers or run a breeding program to sell wholesale to established pet stores.

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Start a commercial aviary by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Commercial Aviary
  2. Form your Commercial Aviary into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Commercial Aviary for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Commercial Aviary
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Commercial Aviary
  7. Get Commercial Aviary Insurance
  8. Define your Commercial Aviary Brand
  9. Create your Commercial Aviary Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your commercial aviary. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Commercial Aviary Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a commercial aviary?

The costs of starting a commercial aviary business vary depending on the size and type of operation you have in mind. The expense of setting up a small scale backyard commercial aviary breeding a single pair of parakeets is much less than a large aviary breeding exotic birds, but the possibility of turning a profit with a larger facility is much more realistic.

At the least, you will need at least to purchase one healthy breeding pair, two or three good sized cages, a nesting box, a brooder, hand feeding tools, food, and other supplies. This is besides the most costly part of raising birds: the avian vet.

A license: The requirements for raising birds for profit depends on your state. Most states in the US place limits on the type and number birds you can raise without a license. Licenses normally cost around one hundred dollars and are good for multiple years before needing renewal.

A breeding pair: A good breeding pair can cost several hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. It all depends on the species, the quality of the breeders, and the ages of the breeders.

A nesting box: You can find nesting boxes for less than one hundred dollars online.

A cage: Cages can range from less than one hundred dollars to thousands depending on the size. If your cage is outside, you will have to add the cost a heater and shade covering.

Food: Food should not cost over one dollar a day per bird. Make sure you buy quality food formulated specifically for breeders of the same species. Bowls, water dispensers, hand feeding tools, and treats are also part of the food expense but have only a nominal cost.

A brooder: A complete store-bought brooder box can cost over five hundred dollars, but if you have basic carpentry skills, you can make your own brooder for less than one hundred bucks.

An avian vet: This is the highest ongoing cost associated with raising birds. A quality avian vet charges hundreds of dollars for a typical check-up and serious injuries or illnesses can wind up costs thousands in vet bills.

What are the ongoing expenses for a commercial aviary?

The biggest ongoing expenses are vet bills, food costs, and electricity.

Who is the target market?

Depending on the size of the commercial aviary, the best customers are individuals looking to purchase a bird as a pet or large pet shops looking to buy birds in bulk. While retail customers will pay more for each bird, retail selling requires spending much more on marketing to locate customers.

How does a commercial aviary make money?

A commercial aviary makes money by selling birds to individuals and pet stores.

How much can you charge customers?

The sale price for birds depends on the species, whether a bird is hand raised, the local market, and how much your customer will pay.

How much profit can a commercial aviary make?

A bird breeder can earn between $18,000 – $57,000 a year according to the US Department of Labor.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Commercial aviaries have the ability to earn more money by selling food and supplies to people who already own birds. There is additional money for people who are willing to care for customers’ birds when they are out of town.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your commercial aviary is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your commercial aviary were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

Ready to Turn Your Business Idea Into a Reality?

Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

In most states, it is necessary to obtain an avian breeder license. Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a commercial aviary business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

For more information about local licenses and permits:

  • Check with your town, city or county clerk’s office

Get assistance from one of the local associations listed in US Small Business Associations directory of local business resources.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

Service Agreement

Commercial aviary businesses should consider requiring clients to sign a service agreement before starting a new project. This agreement should clarify client expectations and minimize risk of legal disputes by setting out payment terms and conditions, service level expectations, and intellectual property ownership. Here is an example service agreement.

Recommended: Rocket Lawyer makes it easy to create a professional service agreement for your commercial aviary business when you sign up for their premium membership. For $39.95 per month, members receive access to hundreds of legal agreements and on call attorneys to get complimentary legal advice.

Consignment Agreement

When dealing with bird breeders, it is always advisable to draft a standard contract regulating terms of conditions under which you may sell their specialty type of bird. This agreement is often referred to as a consignment agreement.

A consignment agreement can be used to show an example of how the bird is sold while maintaining an agreed upon payment that will be made to the owner. This allows visibility for both breeders as well as the animals which receive an increased rate of visibility in order to be purchased more efficiently.

Liability Waiver

It is advisable to provide customers with informed consent agreements to decrease legal liability in case of injury and to encourage transparency.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a commercial aviary

The best way to promote your business depends on the size of your commercial aviary, and your intended customers. Large commercial aviaries who want to supply birds to pet stores should contact the pet stores directly. Established pet shops with a history of selling birds are generally not interested in purchasing from a new supplier unless the pricing or selection is much better than their current supplier. Smaller breeders can find the best results by advertising online, attending Bird Marts, and joining local groups of bird enthusiasts.

How to keep customers coming back

The easiest way to attract new customers is providing the best service to your existing ones. Join and speak at local bird groups and offer advice to bird owners. Sponsor and attend local Bird Marts and become an active member of the community.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

Due to the requirements of breeding birds, most successful commercial breeders have a lot of experience (and success) raising birds as a hobby before attempting to run an aviary as a business. Operating a commercial aviary requires specific knowledge, time, and enough capital to build and maintain the aviary.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a commercial aviary?

There is always something to do when you raise birds commercially. Breeders constantly need to clean cages and nest boxes, feed and water their birds, act as a nursemaid for new hatchlings, take care of the birds’ medical needs, and order supplies. All of these tasks are in additional to the normal day-to-day requirements of running any type of business such as accounting and marketing.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful commercial aviary?

Running a successful commercial aviary requires the operator to have a wide range of skills from avian nutrition to medical care for birds. In addition, owners of a commercial aviary need to have basic business skills such as accounting and marketing. Some states require breeders of certain species or commercial aviaries which sell over a certain number of birds per year to acquire a license.

What is the growth potential for a commercial aviary?

The demand for birds as pets rises and falls, but because keeping a bird is more expensive than caring for other types of pets, the demand for pet birds is currently low. As the economy continues to recover, there should be more of a demand for birds.

Not sure if a commercial aviary is right for you? Try our free Business Idea Generator and find your perfect idea.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a commercial aviary?

Start small and slow, even if you eventually plan on running a large-scale operation. Raising birds for profit is difficult, and it makes no sense to rush into the venture without testing it out beforehand.

New cages are much more preferable to old cages or retrofitting a structure into housing for birds. Viruses and bacteria can live for a long time even after cleaning, so keep your birds healthier by avoiding exposing them to old cages or structures.

How and when to build a team

Although it is best to start small, there may come a time when you can’t handle all the work by yourself. At this point, it seems logical to hire employees. But due to the slim profit margins, it may make more sense to attract free help through a local high school, bird group, or college. Large-scale operations with healthier profit margins may still wish to hire part-time workers to save on salaries.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading