Since you already have a business, if you have space to add on a bait area, you're well more than halfway there. Seems like the investment in tanks and refrigeration for the bait is small compared to the investment in a commercial location, which you already have.
My thought exactly. I do have plenty of extra room also.
Are "they" making it as hard on the bait shop as "they" are on the bait users . . . ?
If "They" are the DEC, the answer is NO ! The VHS related bait regulations/guidlines for bait shops are cut and dried ! Pretty simple to follow and abide by ! The "Hard" part for the bait shops is learning how to maintain and keep your bait healthy and lively ! The learning curve can be lengthy and expensive if they don't follow strict maintainence routines and utilize the proper chemicals/additives and information that are made available to help bait keep alive and disease free. A bait shop is what you make it ! Live bait sales have, and always will be the most consistent source of revenew for the small independent shops. It keeps the doors swinging ! Building your customer base and knowing what they want and when they want it takes time ! A long time ! If you have half a million in back up capital, you can sell whatever you want (not for long though ) and not worry too much about the "Average Fishermen/women" who will be your "Regular" customers and live bait/terminal tackle purchasers ! Specialty shops are great but internet competition is stiff ! You can't compete with the internet as a small independent shop ! Personal customer service is king as an independent shop owner ! Location is everything ! If you don't have a prime location, you'd better be doing or offering something "very special" on a regular basis to get customers to drive the extra miles to get to your shop ! Everything about owning/operation a bait tackle shop can be hard if you start out blind and expect anything other than poverty level income right off the bat !~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What isn't hard is complying with DEC bait regulations as a shop owner. ( I don't approve of the VHS regulations still being in place)