Cost of Breeding Snakes- Profit, Loss, Gross Pay. Reptile Breeder Series Episode #6

I go old school and do some math on a white board breaking down the cost of breeding/keeping a snake. I go over taxes, expenses/loss, and gross profit.
Net Profit= Gross Profit- (Expenses + Taxes)
Sorry for the last clip, camera was a little out of focus.
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[@kumetu]

This, is real, and I mean 100. You don't know how much I personally appreciate you taking the time to do this, and being so transparent about it. You take educating us to another level, and everything you bring to us is invaluable. The reptile industry would not be what it is without you in it.

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

Thank you!!

[@mylesbrownGSP]

I truly appreciate videos like this. It really shows both the big picture and small details of running a business that I would even think about.

[@XxGlynwenxX]

I'm just getting into the snake business personally. I'm getting small guys to start with but I plan on trying to work my way into the breeding scene in a few years. I still plan to work my full time job and do the breeding on a SUPER small scale as a hobby on the side with some potential extra income for things down the line in life later on :). I'm hoping breeding four snakes or so a year won't be too rough haha.

[@NuttyElf]

Would love a video showing your process of cleaning /feeding/weekly maintenance on a large scale, quickly.

[@kristinlaurelluna]

Wow! I had no interest in the breeding business but I watched this to confirm I should have no interest in the breeding business. I’ll let Jason do it and live through him. 😅

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

Haha. With all this said, it’s not hard to turn 100k in profit. Just need to sell more snakes. These same principals apply to almost any business whether it is a McDonald, a supermarket, or a real estate agent.

[@rossmortenson5082]

Thanks for this video. I not a breeder yet but i always wondered about this things

[@Dennis-DJMReptikes]

Great video and it’s good for people to realize it’s not just all profit. So many don’t realize that.

[@84landon]

Damn you got hairy hands man haha this is a great video and super helpful!

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

Lmao. Can’t help the Italian in me.

[@nataliesreptileroom3348]

This is a great video for new breeders

[@madveteran7176]

Hey Jason very in-depth video and very interesting on the price factor of just looking after your boa’s man i love the way you show us everything and you don’t hold back anything big fan of yours Jason i am just learning so much from you and I appreciate everything you do i hope your family is well and doing okay man big SHOUT OUT TO YOUR WIFE love from the United Kingdom 🤜🇬🇧🇺🇸🤛

[@mkrreptiles5163]

Great video. Thanks to the wife, she's a champ.

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

Thank you!!

[@jgram4641]

Nice work! Thank you! Really beneficial. I am really kinda excited about the twins. Best to you Sir!

[@GloomsOath]

Jason this is a great video. yet again another video you've nailed it. thanks for actually taking the time and doing the math and SHOWING IT. I've gained so much from this. As someone who is about too breed, and an overthinker this helps put my brain at ease. its SO nice too actually see this, and see it worked out and explained. Thank you so much for this! look forward too every video! cant wait to eventually purchase something from you!

[@jdmahle]

Great break down video brother. Very well explained. Have a great weekend.

[@adamdavis1737]

Dude you're killing it with these videos I think these have been a massive help to people who want to start a business breeding these animals, or just do it on a smaller scale as an extension of the hobby

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

Thank you bro!

[@jeffreymarks8119]

This is a great series Jason! Keep it coming 😊

[@boldcoastexotics]

Yo! Just wanted to reach out and say thanks. You've answered a handful of questions of mine over the past couple years on my other account. I've finally made the jump last month and started my small hobby business... Cheers 🤙

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

Thank you!!

[@Mike_salazar_proxima_reptilis]

This was a great video, and it was very informative and helpful. Thanks for making it!

[@Dna_Geckos]

Good job thank you

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

Thank yoi

[@KT-kn9vd]

Yeah that’s a lot that goes into a full time breeding business. I thought about doing it but then I noticed how much it cost to take care of just 3 animals. Couldn’t imagine how much work goes into taking care of 300 snakes. 🤯🤯🤯I beat myself up if I miss a poop cleaning in just one enclosure. Lol!! Oh & Thank you to Jason’s wife for all the editing. I’m sure that’s not an easy task either lol

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

Haha thank you bro!

[@BamaDega]

I use corrugated (flute A) 18"×250' roll for bedding. Chlorhexidine diluted 1 oz. per gallon for cleaning. Heat tape for heating. I regulate the humidity and heat with Inkbird thermostat and laser temp gun. Just a few things for 15 boas I use and have for several years with good results. Thanks for posting this, for it's a good representation of overhead cost.

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

Thank you!

[@BamaDega]

@@JasonsExoticReptiles you're welcome buddy! Keep the awesome videos coming!!!! Stay safe.

[@derekcapron5718]

Stellar video Jason.

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

Thank you!

[@mallmanator]

great breakdown json, thank you!!!

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

Thank you!

[@dorkdad]

I LOVE THIS! Thank you for going over the money side of things. I will rewatch when I get home, but I definitely listened on the way to work.

[@cynthiaraimondi4767]

Another great video topic!

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

Good editing for sure

[@shogunsnakes]

Yo!! That’s a dope hoodie!! Where do I buy one of those?!

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

Need to hit up my brother from another mother up in Canada. Shogun Snakes haha

[@mintboas]

Great topic and great video. I have a question. Is it worth upgrading from a hobby to a LLC? THANK YOU. Tim Gomez from MintBoas.

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

I asked my accountant that last year and he said that it was not worth it unless I was going to start hiring employees. At that point, it may be worth the extra money. Otherwise, just file as a sole proprietorship doing business as (DBA).

[@mintboas]

@@JasonsExoticReptiles ok. thank you for taking the time to respond. 👍👍much appreciated.

[@shinypenny]

Shows why so many people breed ball pythons, if you increase the value per clutch and the costs stay constant (Ball Pythons even cheaper than the Boas to keep) then you get to keep a lot more cash at the end of the day. Big snakes are really a labor of love, there's not a ton of money in it for most people.

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

Yes and no. A lot of these cost still apply to ball pythons. They also have smaller clutches so either way it generally comes out to be a wash. Ball pythons can be much easier to breed though. You can also use a Male to multiple females

[@shinypenny]

@@JasonsExoticReptiles I'm thinking of folks like Ozzy who's says he's now above $30k average clutch for ball pythons. The high clutch values seem much more attainable with the ball pythons due to the size of the market, the number of morphs, and the number of combos selling for $4k plus per animal. It's fairly common to hear of a ball python male being bred to 3-4 females at 1 year old, so you're getting immediate ROI, where as the Boas typically take more time to get to size. That and the animals are less than half the size in weight, smaller snake means smaller enclosure, which means less heat, less rent, smaller feeders, etc. Single male to multiple females is also huge. On a collection of 100 animals that means you can load up on females, and produce 10-30 more clutches per year with something like ball pythons because you can skew to females. One super high value male can be spread much farther through a collection in 1 season, so you're getting that return faster on those investment animals. Just a different market. I respect what you do with your animals, you produce some great snakes, I just couldn't do it with Boas, with all the stress, work and investment for the slim returns that the market currently offers.

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

Can’t disagree with a lot of that. Only problem is that it’s still amazingly hard selling ball pythons in the price range and the market is flooded. I was talking to a few of the larger breeders the other day and they are struggling hard. Stuff just isn’t selling like it used to. Because of all the factors you listed, everyone jumped in the game. You have tons of sellers but everyone is a seller waiting to seek before they can buy. So they each have pros and cons. With the high end market, the smaller breeders get the scraps of sales from the larger ones who consume the majority of the high end market.

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

I used to have hundreds on BPs. It’s not all bad but there are is a lot behind the curtain that people pushing the expensive animal and selling the dream approach don’t tell you. It’s not that it’s hard selling an expensive animal. It’s hard selling in a market with the same of thousands of breeders trying to do the same thing.

[@shinypenny]

​@@JasonsExoticReptiles Agreed, the ball python market is hyper competitive. When COVID started it went nuts and it looked like everyone was having an easy time selling snakes, but it's definitely slowed down since then. I wonder if the prices will come back down to earth at some point, which will thin the number of breeders. Talk of recession on the horizon isn't good for the market, but we'll see if anything comes of it.

[@nathanhill6042]

So according to the math seems like having 2 or 3 pairs of high dollar snakes will next you just as much money as 200 pairs of low to mid level snakes

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

Technically yes, but only if you can sell them. Otherwise you will be sitting on a bunch of babies that are costing you money and quickly depreciating while trying to recoup your initial high dollar investment.

[@livingartexotics]

Electric I have solor so it cuts those cost alot

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

It certainly can. The problem is that my roof isn’t big enough for the solar to power the room. It could certainly help.

[@snakemannn1744]

Now i wanna cry ,, hahahahah ,, I do feel ya ,,, Man this was a great and well educated one for sure ,,, much needed process to know before u get into ,, especially with any business there of. A ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 🏆🏆🏆🍹🍹🍹 ,,, Now i can dry my eyez ,,,, hahahahah ,,,, Great one n deed '

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

Haha thank you bro

[@michaelross5674]

What about vet bills for breeders ... Just incase something happened egg bound , respiratory infection etc..

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

Definitely another cost to consider for sure! One that I certainly left out. I would typically throw that into the miscellaneous category. Stuff that just comes up throughout the year that is unavoidable

[@StLMikie]

We’re going to do some MATH kids!! Sharpen your pencils! Thanks for the video Birdman.

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

Haha thank you bro.

[@bzig8988]

Cash is King

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

1000%

[@zrsibitserrormiubaakie]

👍👍

[@ryankube686]

This video has was well intentioned , but your numbers are inflated and it paints an inflated picture. You did somehow go from $25/mo for bedding to $30/ year, which helped, and you may live insanely far from fedex, but some of these numbers are still a bit much .

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

Somewhat, but it’s the general process that needs to be scales for each person. I do about 100-150 trips to FedEx at about 70 miles round trip. Then shows, travel to pick up supplies, travel for feeders etc. it’s going to vary from person to person but it give the big picture.

[@bryanspanjer3213]

RPM’s. = rats per month.

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

Lol

[@markbrennan8971]

I'll work for someone else thank you. Let them have all these headaches .

[@JasonsExoticReptiles]

Haha right! Much easier to just collect the check and not worry about all the stuff in the background!

[@markbrennan8971]

That's right at least for me it's much better