| How to Take Care of Goldfish Posted: 15 Jun 2016 05:00 PM PDT Goldfish are rewarding pets to have. Their proper care, however, is not always taken into consideration, and we have only just begun to understand the best ways to make these fish thrive. If you're looking to breed goldfish, have one as a pet, or are simply curious about what it might be like, here is how to make your fish happy and healthy! EditTank Requirements and Care - Get a large enough tank. The minimum tank size for one goldfish is 10-15 US gallons (56.7 liters)(Remember, they grow to about 10-12 inches (25.5-30.5 centimeters), and sometimes over!) and you will need to add 10 U.S. gallons (37.8 liters) onto that for each additional goldfish. Do your research about all different kinds of goldfish. Common goldfish, comet goldfish, and other single tail goldfish need ponds or huge tanks as they can grow up to a foot or more in length. Don't get single tails unless you have a 180 US gallon (681.4 liter) tank laying around or a pond into which you can transition them when they get too large.
- For decades goldfish have been depicted in small bowls, that's why they're synonymous with short life spans as ammonia builds up quickly in such a small space and the environment becomes toxic. In order to increase your goldfish's length (and quality) of life, give it a decent-sized aquarium.
- Use gravel that won't get stuck in your fish's throat. Use either large gravel (too big to swallow) or very small gravel. Large gravel is better for goldfish because it won't get caught in their throat and because goldfish like to be able to dig into the gravel to search for fallen food.
- Be sure to clean your gravel before you put it into the tank. Even if you have just bought it, a good rinse and soak in some water for a day will draw out some of the impurities and help ensure that your goldfish are getting the best environment to flourish in. Make sure to not use soap.
- Make sure your tank has some scenery and light. Goldfish are diurnal which means they are active during the day. They need light to maintain a healthy wake/sleep cycle. There is also evidence that light is necessary to keep your fish's colors bright.[1][2] Fish that can't sleep well or aren't getting enough sunlight are going to lose their color and become dull. Keep your aquarium lit for around 8-12 hours each day to replicate a healthy day/night cycle if it does not receive natural sunlight. Never put your tank in direct sunlight, either, as this could cause large temperature fluctuations and contribute to rampant algae growth.
 - Think about putting a rock or wood centerpiece with some artificial greenery into your aquarium. The rock or wood will give the goldfish nooks and crannies to explore and the artificial plants won't accelerate plant growth in your tank. Goldfish thrive with minimal decoration. They are typically chubby and poor swimmers, so having fewer obstacles means they can swim more freely. Consider having one medium to large statement piece in the center of the tank and a few plastic plants located outside of the swimming pattern to give your fish the most usable space.
- Real plants are beneficial because they help absorb some of the ammonia, nitrites and nitrates that accumulates in the aquarium because of waste and natural wear and tear. However, goldfish are omnivores and voracious eaters. Stick with artificial plants until you have the time and resources to keep real plants safe from hungry goldfish.
- Be sure that any decorations you choose aren't hollow (it's a breeding ground for potentially harmful bacteria) and that they don't have sharp edges (your fish might tear its fins).
- Try using fluorescent lights for your goldfish. Halogen lights and incandescent lights will also do. Pay attention to how much light you give them — goldfish will appreciate 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness.
- Rig up a water filter. Goldfish need a filter. A water filter should have 3 stages: Mechanical, for removing large particles such as fish waste or excess food; chemical, for removing odors, discolorations, and other organics; and biological, to break down fish waste and ammonia with beneficial bacteria. It should also be rated for the size of your tank. If your tank is on the borderline between two sized filters, it is usually better to go with the larger filter. Having clean water and a functional, efficient filtration device will keep your goldfish content and healthy. There are three very popular kinds of filters:
- Hang on back (HOB) filters, which hang on the rim of your tank, and bring water in and filter water out. They are very popular, reasonably priced, and probably give you the most bang for your buck.[3]
- Canister filters sit underneath your aquarium and use a series of tubes to filter water in and out. Canister filters tend to be almost silent, are a little pricier than HOB filters, but tend to be more efficient at filtering than HOBs.[3] Canister Filters are also typically made for tanks in excess of 50gal (About 189 Liters), and so are usually not available for smaller tanks.
- Wet/Dry filters use an overflow box to filter out impurities. Wet/Dry filters, however, are significantly bigger than HOBs or canisters, and so generally only fit into aquariums that hold at least 50 gallons (189.2 liters).[3]
- Fill the tank with water. When you get your tank, fill it with tap water that has been treated with an appropriate water conditioning solution. Or, you could use distilled water.
- Untreated tap water or drinking water has chemicals and minerals that could harm the fish.
- Go through at least one fish-less cycle before introducing your goldfish. A fish-less cycle involves adding ammonia to a tank and keeping track of the nitrate levels to make sure the water is safe for your goldfish to live in. Sadly, many fish die once introduced into a new tank because of ammonia and nitrate poisoning. Make sure that you add dechlorinator, because the chlorine in tap water will kill your fish.
- Before you add your fish, you'll need to make sure the environment is fish-ready. Pick up a pH test kit and test the tank for the right amount of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels. You want zero ammonia, zero nitrite, and less than 20 nitrate as your end result. Test strips can be difficult to use correctly, and tend to be more expensive, so get a liquid test kit like the API Master Test Kit.
- What's going to happen is you'll start adding drops of ammonia continuously. That'll start the nitrite process going. If you keep doing what you're doing, eventually you'll see nitrates which are consumed by algae or plants. When you've done a lap, it's fish time!
EditUpkeep and Feeding - Add your fish. Hopefully, if you have more than one goldfish, your goldfish are all the same type. Unfortunately, goldfish are known to eat other, smaller fish, and can overeat, keeping food from their peers. If another fish is smaller or slower, it doesn't stand a chance. You can use a commercially available tank divider to keep your "bully" or weaker fish apart from the other(s).
- Goldfish can be decent "community tank" fish. However, good roommates need to be selected carefully. White Cloud Mountain Minnows or Zebra Danios are good choices, and so are Plecos. However: These fish live in schools, so if you're buying extra fish, you need to at least buy an extra half dozen. So in short: Keep your goldfish with other similar goldfish.
- Any new fish brought into an established aquarium should be quarantined for two weeks beforehand. If they have any diseases, you don't want those spread to your healthy fish!
- Keep in mind that goldfish like colder water than most community fish, so any other species you add to the tank should be hearty. (You could also consider adding a goldfish to a tank with overly-productive livebearers to eat the unwanted offspring and keep your fish numbers in check.)
- Clean the aquarium at least once every week. even if it doesn't look dirty. Goldfish produce waste that even your water filter may not be entirely able to remove. A clean tank means happy, healthy goldfish. And a happy, healthy goldfish can live for decades![4] Soap is poisonous to fish and will kill them quickly, so don't wash your tank with soap. Also, don't use regular tap water to put in your tank. Drinkable water is not good for them because it takes out some of the minerals which are good for goldfish. Buy a water conditioner at a pet store and put in the amount it says on the label.
- Avoid removing the fish from the tank when you clean. Using a gravel vacuum to soak up debris can be done without extracting the fish from their habitat. If you have to remove the fish, for whatever reason, use a plastic container instead of a net, if possible. Nets can injure goldfish fins more easily than containers can. They are also scared of nets and can cause them stress.[5]
- Perform a 25% water change weekly assuming you have stocked your tank properly. Do a 50% water change whenever the nitrates reach 20. It can help to have a few old towels around for this messy process. Just be careful not to vacuum up any teeny fish while you're changing the water.
- Measure for ammonia, nitrite, and pH. Remember that test you did before you added your precious little fish? You gotta keep that up! Ammonia and nitrite levels should be at 0. A range of pH 6.5-8.25 is fine.
- Feed your fish 1-2 times daily. Be careful not to overfeed them, only feed them what they can eat in a minute, the label on the food is wrong. Goldfish can easily overeat and can die. Underfeeding is always preferable to overfeeding. If you use floating food, soak it in water for a few seconds before feeding so that it will sink. This reduces the amount of air the fish swallows while eating, which in turn reduces the risk of buoyancy problems.
- Just like humans, goldfish want diversity of nutrition. Feed your goldfish pellet food most of the time, live foods, such as brine shrimp, some of the time, and freeze-dried foods, such as mosquito larvae or blood worms, every once in a while. Remember to soak freeze dried food in a cup of aquarium water before you feed to your goldfish, freeze dried foods expand in a goldfish's stomach, causing to have problems swimming.
- Feed your fish only what they can eat in one minute. Remove any excess food. More goldfish die from overeating than from anything else.
- Feed your goldfish at the same time each day (once in the morning, once at night) and in the same spot in the tank.
- Turn off the light and let them get some sleep. They don't have eyelids and they don't really stop swimming, but their bodies sort of hibernate. You can tell when you notice a slight change in color and reduced activity (they'll stick to one side of the tank).
- Goldfish like to "sleep" in the dark. You really only need an aquarium light if you're growing plants or if the room is particularly poorly-lit. But even if you don't have an aquarium light, it's good environmental practice to reduce unnecessary energy use by turning off the light.
- Let the water temperature change as the seasons change. Goldfish don't like temperatures over 75°F (24°C), but they appear to like seasonal changes where the temperature dips to the high 50s or 60s (15-20°C) in the winter. Understand that goldfish will not eat below 50-55°F (10-14°C).
- A good thermometer makes this pretty easy. There are two types to choose from: those that hang inside and those that hang outside. Both should be accurate enough, but I like the ones that hang on the inside better.
- If you're not breeding your goldfish, a steady temperature all year-round of 74°F (23°C) is golden. If you are breeding your goldfish, simulate the seasons (goldfish spawn in the spring). Start off by lowering the temperature ("Hey, guys, must be winter!") to somewhere between 50°F (10°C) and 54°F (12°C). Then, when it's baby-making time, up it to between 68°F (20°C) and 74°F (23°C) gradually. The goldfish will be cued to then lay their eggs.
EditDealing with Potential Problems - Check the oxygen level in the tank. If you notice your goldfish are congregating to the surface, odds are there isn't enough in the water. But good news! Oxygen levels will raise with a temperature reduction. So lower the temperature or get your aquarium out of the sun -- hopefully, crisis averted. or you can get a bubbler and an air pump to move the water.
- If you've read all of this page, you're aware of the most common problems -- so you can avoid them! As long as you maintain appropriate pH, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and oxygen levels, don't overfeed your fish, and clean the tank, you've answered 95% of your pets' possible problems. Good for you!
- Fix cloudy aquarium water. Sometimes even when we put forth our best efforts, things still go a bit awry. Water can turn yellow, green, or even white. If you notice it straight away, it's not a big deal. But do get to cleaning your tank!
- Each color of the spectrum signifies a different problem. It could be algae, bacteria, or even just decaying plant matter. Don't get too alarmed! With another cycle and a water change, your fish should be fine.
- Watch for goldfish ich. One of the most common goldfish diseases is Ich -- where the fish get little white spots on their bodies and fins and have difficulty breathing. It's a parasite that's curable. Move your fish to a hospital tank and use a commercially available fungicide.
 - The important thing to do here is to isolate your fish from other living things, including plants. The parasite can spread to any plant or animal that's living.
- If you notice white spots on your gravel or scenery, remove the chemical stage of your filter and treat the whole tank. Keep the sick fish separated, as it will likely need more medical care than your healthy fish.
- You can also attempt non-chemical alternatives such as increasing the water temperature or adding high levels of aquarium salt. Temperatures of 85F (29C) will kill most strands of ich, as will about a tablespoon of salt per gallon.[6] Make sure to increase the temperature or add salt slowly over time, no more than 1-2 degrees F per hour or 1 tsp/gal per 12 hours, and continue treatment for at least 3 days after all signs of infection disappear. Once completed, perform frequent partial water changes to remove salt or reduce temperature. Be prepared for a loss of color or vibrancy in your treated fish.
- Monitor for Flukes. Another parasite that's a common culprit is Flukes. If infected, your fish will scratch against surfaces, develop an outer mucus, redden slightly, and possibly get a swollen belly.
- As with any fish parasite (just like with Ich), quarantine your fish. He can be back swimming with his finned friends in a few days if you tackle it head on from the beginning.
- Look for swimbladder disease. This one's pretty easy to identify, as your fish will be swimming sideways or even upside-down. You'd think he was up in fishy heaven, but no such luck. But there is luck in that it's not contagious and it can be readily fixed.
- For this one, you may not need to quarantine your fish. Swimbladder disease is not a parasite. However, if you'd like to err on the side of caution, do so.
- Medication is usually not needed to cure swimbladder diseases as over- or improper feeding are typically the cause. Reduce the amount you're feeding your fish, or better yet, put them on a fast for about 3 days. This gives your fish's gut bacteria time to return to normal. If symptoms persist, consider changing their diet to include more high-fiber foods like peas or cucumbers, or using a medicated fish food specifically to treat internal infections.
- If a fish has died, take the proper measures. First things first, dispose of your fish in a way that won't stink up the house. You can bury it, or, if you feel so inclined, throw it in the compost heap. Do not flush the fish down the toilet! Grab it from the tank with a plastic bag around your hands, invert the bag, and tie it up. How you clean your aquarium depends on your situation.
- If only one fish died, hopefully it was a parasite that you saw quickly enough so as to avoid it spreading to the other creatures in the tank.
- If all your fish are dying or dead, you'll need to clean out your aquarium entirely with a bleach solution. Just 1/4 of a teaspoon (a dash) for every gallon (3.8 liters) of water should do the trick. Let it soak for an hour or two to get rid of all the toxins. Then, remove the water and let it dry out.
- Healthy goldfish have bright scales and upright dorsal fins. When you go to purchase your goldfish, make sure he's bright and cheery!
- Goldfish sometimes pick up gravel in their mouths. If you see them do this, don't worry! They usually spit it right back out! Just don't buy gravel small enough that they have a chance of choking.
- Fish can go for a week without food easily - so if you forget to feed them for a day or two no harm will be done.
- Fish don't actually have a 3 second memory. They remember a lot of things, and you can prove this by watching their immediate 'swim to the top' reaction when they hear the feeding flap open! Many fish are very intelligent.
- If a goldfish looks unhealthy, clean the water a little bit more frequently. Feed it regularly. If the problem gets worse, do some research and read online forums for solutions or take the fish to your local pet store to see if they can help.
- If floating food is used, soak it in water for a few seconds before feeding so that it will sink. This reduces the amount of air the fish swallows while eating, which in turn reduces the risk of buoyancy problems.
- Watch your goldfish for signs that it is unhappy.
- Never use a bowl with a narrow top for a goldfish. The circle shape makes the goldfish bump on the glass, and it is way too small for sufficient oxygen to get into the water. Don't just look at movies and say " Ok! That sounds easy! Just keep the goldfish in the bowl!" Nope. Not how it works.
- Peas which have been in the microwave for 10 seconds give your fish a healthier body. Make sure you gently peel off the skin and squash the pea to make sure it's easy to swallow.
- You need 20 gallons of space per fish. So if you have two goldfish, a 40 gallon breeder tank will be perfect for two fish for their entire lives. If you have more than that, consider getting a 75 gallon tank.
- If your fish has white spots on most of its body this is a parasite called white spot. It is curable with a solution which is widely available from most pet stores.
- Don't take your fish out of the tank just because you see it has its eyes open and doesn't move its body. Fishes sleep like that: they have no eyelids so they sleep with their eyes open.
- Watch for goldfish that has ripped up skin.
- When cleaning an empty tank, use baking soda. Baking soda will kill algae on artificial plant, sides of the tank, gravel, and the filter. Rinse well.
- Goldfish can and will try to eat nearly everything, so watch what you put in the tank!
- Don't go by the stocking ideas it says on your tank's packaging; almost all of them show overstocked tanks that will be very prone to problems and restrict the fish living space significantly.
My Aquarium Club is a great fish forum, there are lots of expert fish keepers on there! AqAdvisor.com is a great stocking calculator for your tank! Enter your size aquarium, and if you want your filter, then enter your kind of goldfish, and it gives you a stocking percent. its best if you stay under 80% stocking. - Never put goldfish in a bowl or other small tank smaller than 20 U.S. gallons unless it's temporary. Bowls are not only much too small, but are difficult to filter, have poor oxygen exchange, can be especially prone to smashing accidents due to their rounded shape, and stunt the fish growth. Fish who live in bowls are exposed to deadly chemicals that aren't filtered out by a filter and terribly cramped conditions. This damages their immune system seriously, and either kills them outright or kills them slowly and painfully over a course of a few years. Living in a bowl decreases the lifespan of a goldfish by an average of 80%. That's like a human living to only 15-20!
- Goldfish get big (usually around 20cm, but fancy varieties normally get to a smaller size like 15cm) and can live 15-30 years. Sadly, millions die each year due to improper care and myths (goldfish bowls, etc). Be kind to your fish and your fish will live a long, long time.
- Be careful about the fish you put with them! Research and ask your pet dealer for information; the last thing you want is to find "Goldy's" skeleton floating around in the tank. Be careful when asking pet dealers for information - as most don't have a clue what they are talking about. This rule applies especially to some of the big US chain stores. Instead ask around on online forums or care sheets.
- Sand in the tank needs to be stirred when you do a water change to prevent it compacting and harmful gasses building up in it.
EditThings You'll Need - A tank/aquarium
- Water
- A goldfish
- Goldfish food
- Decorative items
- Gravel
- Filter
- Thermometer
- pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate water test kit. The API Liquid Freshwater Master Test Kit is a great test kit, it is recommended.
- Net to grab fish (Never grab them with your hands always use a fish net)
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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| How to Open a Small Business Posted: 15 Jun 2016 09:00 AM PDT Once you've decided you want to start a small business, formulated your business plan, lined up financing, and secured a site, the time will finally come to actually open up shop. While planning a business may present challenges, the actual act of opening a business and bringing the business concept to fruition has its own set of difficulties. To have a better chance of long-term success, you need to get your business off to a good start. Here are a few tips on how to legally establish your business, hire your first employees, spreading the word, and organizing a grand opening. EditLegally Establishing Your Business - Ensure you have a business plan. A business plan is essential to starting a business and can be seen as a plan that describes your business, products/services, market, and describes how your business will go about expanding for the next 3-5 years. It is essentially a "road map" for your business to follow going forward.
- How to Write a Business Plan offers much useful information on the process, such as: determining your potential market and its viability; identifying your business' initial needs and start-up costs; identifying potential investors; establishing your business strategy and marketing plan; and creating a clear, concise document that ends with your "executive summary," in which you essentially "sell" your business to investors and interested parties.
- See the following wikiHow articles for more information on How to Start a Small Business; starting up a small retail business such as a bakery; and the specifics of starting a business in California, for example, among others.
- To make sure you're ready to open up, consult the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) 10-part checklist for starting a business.[1] Each part of the checklist is summarized in the following three steps below.
- Determine the legal structure of your business. Before starting your business and filing the necessary papers, it is important to decide on how your business will be legally structured. Generally speaking, you will be establishing either a sole proprietorship; partnership; corporation; or limited liability company (LLC). There are important legal and tax implications for each.[2]
 - A sole proprietorship is owned and run by one person, and there is no distinction between the owner and the business. This means that all the business' profits, losses, debts, and liabilities are your responsibility. Choose this if you are the sole owner and want full responsibility for the business.
- Partnership. A partnership occurs when two or more people share ownership. In a partnership, each partner has equal share (unless specified) in the profits, liabilities, and management of the business. This can be useful in terms of pooling capital and expertise to start the business.
- Corporation: A corporation is an independent legal entity owned by shareholders. Generally, this structure is not appropriate for small businesses.
- Limited Liability Company (LLC): An LLC is similar to a partnership, except members are protected from personal liability for actions of the LLC. For example, if the LLC is sued, the personal assets of the partners are typically exempt. If you are worried about personal exposure to lawsuits or debts arising from your business, this may be a good option.
- Form the necessary legal structure. A different procedure exists for forming each one of these structures, and some require more work while others are extremely simple. Details surrounding how to form each type can be located on the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) website.[3]
- Forming a sole proprietorship is most simple, as it involves no formal action. Simply obtain your EIN (described below), establish a business name (described below), and your can include your business income on your personal tax return.
- LLC's, Partnerships, and Corporations are slightly more involved to form, requiring specific paperwork. To learn the details on each, check the SBA website, or contact the SBA.
- Obtain a tax identification number. Also known as an Employee Identification Number (EIN), the EIN is used to identify your business for tax purposes. Applying for an EIN is simple, and can be done within minutes on the IRS website. [4]
- Note that if you are starting a partnership or a sole proprietorship, it is not necessary to obtain an EIN. However, it can be wise to do so anyway. Without an EIN, your business will be identified by your Social Security Number (SSN) for tax purposes. Keeping your SSN private reduces the odds of identity theft.[5].
- Register your business name. Unless you are running the business under your own name, such as "John Smith Painting," most states require you to register a "Doing Business As" (DBA) name for tax and legal purposes. Registering a DBA is done with your state government or county clerk's office. Search the specific requirements of your state online.[6]
- Establishing a DBA name usually just takes minutes to complete, and is especially useful if you have a sole proprietorship. This allows you to have a business name separate from your personal name. When you form a sole proprietorship, the business name will automatically default to your personal name unless you file a DBA.
- Obtain a business license. The city or county which you operate within will require a business license. Typically, these forms can be found on the website for your city.
- These forms will require your business type, address, # of employees, EIN, and possibly information regarding revenue (estimations will work fine here).
- Keep in mind that licensing requirements often apply to online and home-based businesses as well as typical brick-and-mortar businesses. Requirements do vary according to location, so be certain to contact your local and state government to determine specific requirements.
- Inquire as to other necessary permits. Unfortunately, each city or county has different permit requirements for businesses. These can include things like "Home Occupation Permits" for home based businesses, "Alarm Permits" if your business requires a commercial alarm, or various alcohol and firearm permits.
- Contact your local government's permitting bureau or similar authority, or seek out the local chamber of commerce or business association for advice.
- Establish a bank account for your business. It is very important not to mix business and personal finances, as this can lead to issues with the IRS. Having separate bank accounts for business and personal transaction simplifies accounting and makes tax requirements easier to understand.
- To open a business account, simply contact your local bank or credit union.
- Contact a small business lawyer or accountant for further guidance. While forming a sole proprietorship is relatively simple, if you are forming an LLC, Corporation, or Partnership, it is essential to involve a professional.
- A professional can guide you through which forms to fill out, and can also help you draft important partnership documents. For example, forming an LLC or Partnership involves documents specifying what ownership is attributed to each partner. This must be specified in a legally valid form.
EditPreparing To Open Your Business - Determine employer responsibilities. Before you begin hiring, make sure you have taken the necessary steps to be able to collect federal and state wage taxes, provide employee eligibility verification, and obtain worker's compensation insurance, among others.
 - One of your central obligations to ensure that employees are eligible to work in the United States. To do this, you must complete "Form I-9" within three days of hiring a new employee. Completing this form will require you to submit documents to verify your employees citizenship and confirm their eligibility to work in the United States. The form can be downloaded on the U.S. Immigration and Customs website. Note that you do not need to submit this form with the Federal Government, but you do need to keep it on file for three years after the date of hire or one year after the date of termination, whichever is later.
- Make sure to register for Workers Compensation Insurance with your states Workers Compensation Insurance Program.
- When hiring an employee, they must provide you with a signed Form-W4 before they begin employment, which you must send to the IRS. This allows you to withhold federal income tax.
- Further information regarding hiring and employer responsibility are available on the SBA website (https://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/starting-managing-business/starting-business/establishing-business/hiring).
- Hire the right people. The first impression is critical for a new small business, and unless you'll be doing all the work yourself, that impression will be made at least in part by the people you hire.
 - Ideally you can find someone who is familiar with the business -- someone who has twirled dough if you're opening a pizza shop, for instance -- but even more important is finding a person who is willing and eager to learn. You need employees who want to learn to do things (and represent your business) your way.
- You do have to be willing to let go a little, however. This business has been your baby for a long time, but as you let it out into the world, you'll need help taking care of it. Look for employees who are eager to contribute ideas and adapt as the business goes through its early growing pains.
- Do your homework. Look over resumes. Call references. Don't just hire your nephew to make your brother happy. (Wait until your business gets on its feet.)
- Key questions like "Can you provide an example of a problem that you successfully solved?" may offer insights into a potential employee's ambition, ingenuity, and work ethic.[7]. Keep in mind that such questions are common, however, and the interviewee may have prepared stock answers already. (An inability to answer effectively is thus a bad sign.) In addition, try to think up a few problem-solving hypotheticals, for instance, that are specific to your small business.
- Prepare your site. Whether you have a physical or virtual business site, the impression it makes on your initial customers will go a long way toward determining your chances of success.
 - If your business involves a storefront -- a candy shop or used-book store, for instance -- set up your space to represent your vision for the business. Coordinate color patterns and décor with your logo, for example, or consider personalizing it with family photos to establish your essential connection to this business. Consider hiring a professional interior designer and/or decorator.
- A web presence is becoming (if not already) essential for any new small business, so don't take this aspect for granted. Especially if your business has a substantial web-based component, make your site intuitive, manageable, and suited to the brand identity you want to build. Hiring a professional web designer may be a good idea.
- If your budget is tight, and/or your business does not require a traditional storefront, don't overspend on a fancy space. A local coffee shop can make a good place to meet clients, or you can rent a space as needed for such gatherings. Wait until your business has a solid foundation before expanding into a nicer space.
- Consider a "soft" opening. There is no rule that says your first day of business has to also be your Grand Opening. Give your business a chance to work out the kinks before announcing itself to the world.[8]
- Restaurants are probably the best-known example of businesses that often have soft openings -- dry runs of dinner service with invited guests, maybe even just friends and family. But the concept can work with just about any small business. Send your new landscaping company's crews out to work on your local relatives' houses, lure your friends in with free pedicures, or convince your book club to come in and discuss their life insurance needs.
- Open officially for business without great fanfare, maybe for a week or two before your (well-advertised) Grand Opening. Customers will probably just trickle in, but that will make it easier to practice getting things right before the hopeful rush of customers to come.
EditSpreading the Word - Start early. Don't wait until opening day, or even until you know when opening day will be. Be proactive in establishing brand awareness and generating anticipation. A "coming soon" sign on your in-preparation storefront is a good start, but not enough on its own.
- Preserve the bulk of your initial marketing budget for the Grand Opening, but before that time utilize budget-friendly options like flyers, targeted direct mail, and a social media presence.
- Try to build your brand even before your location is ready. If you're going to be selling handcrafted necklaces or handmade pierogies, seek out a local craft or food festival where you can set up a table and sell your wares. (Be sure to advertise your forthcoming retail presence.) If you're an accountant, maybe you can volunteer to offer tax advice at the local community center or library (and hand out business cards).
- Establish a marketing budget. The run-up to opening and first few months of operation may very well make or break your new small business, so make sure you give your initial marketing push a strong effort.
- One suggestion is to dedicate 20% of your first year's marketing budget to your Grand Opening. This amount should be significant enough to spread your message widely at a time when your ads are likely to be their most effective, but at the same time isn't an "all your eggs in one basket" situation that leaves you with limited ability for subsequent advertising.[9]
- Spend, for example, $4,500 advertising your Grand Opening, because that amount should be sufficient for two media buys. If that amount is beyond your reach, you may be able to utilize a mix of flyers, direct mailings, promotional items (balloons, banners, etc.), and a "sign spinner" at a busy intersection for around $1,500.[10]
- This, of course, assumes you have a fairly large marketing budget of $22,500 ($4,500 is 20% of $22,500). Since many businesses have much smaller marketing budgets (maybe only a few thousand dollars), always work within whatever 20% of your marketing budget is.
- Use traditional media. If your marketing budget allows, consider using traditional media like radio or newspaper. If you can manage television advertising as well, it is always a good idea to diversify your ad presence.
 - Before tossing radio aside as an outdated media format, note that some three-quarters of U.S. adults listen to radio at least occasionally, and often do so when driving somewhere. Thus, radio can be a particularly good advertising method for retail stores and restaurants. Target your advertising by format (Top 40, Country, Talk, etc.) and time of day to maximize impact.[11]
- Newspapers are popular among over-35 adults, but even a decent percentage of younger adults read a paper occasionally. Newspapers are still a cost-effective way to reach thousands of potential customers.
- Consider including coupons as well; they provide not only motivation to visit but a tangible connection between a potential customer and your business. It is also easy to track their effectiveness, as more coupons coming in mean they are doing their job.[12]
- You may assume that TV advertising is beyond your small business budget, but there are options for producing and placing lower-cost ads, sometimes with the assistance of the local broadcast network. Consider bunching your ads during programs relevant to your targeted customer base -- TV judge shows for a legal practice or the nightly news sports report for a golf training academy, for instance -- so that you seem like a major sponsor.[13]
- Use social media. Even if you don't know your tweets from your tags, or assume that your tailor shop doesn't need a social media presence, make use of all avenues to spread the word about your business. Some 80% of your fellow small business owners are using social media, particularly for marketing.[14]
 - The appeal of social media advertising is its low cost and direct connection to potential customers, but remember that the trade-off is likely to be a greater time commitment. Do a detailed analysis of your targeted and existing customer base and try to coordinate your brand identity and message across platforms.[15]
- With the ever growing number of social media platforms, you may feel the temptation to be active in as many as possible. But don't spread your business (or yourself) too thin. If your salon targets 40-something moms who likely use Facebook, focus your energies there. Don't get caught up in posting all the time; a few times a week will likely suffice. You'll be plenty busy with all the other details of opening your business.[16]
- There are, however, ways to link multiple social media platforms. Consider this option if you can manage it without, again, spreading yourself too thin at a very busy time.
- Social media presence is especially important if your business is online based. In addition to social media, consider internet advertising using technology like Google Adwords. Adwords allows an ad from your business to pop up whenever a user searches particular key words on google. When somebody clicks on your ad, you pay. For an online based business, this can be especially important since it communicates your business to the broader internet. It is also important for traditional brick-and-mortar businesses too, since it reaches an audience that primarily is exposed to the internet as opposed to other forms of media.[17]
EditOpening for Business - Consider when to make your opening "grand." As mentioned, there is no requirement to hold your Grand Opening on your first day of business, and it is often advisable to wait even a couple of weeks before staging it.
- Schedule your Grand Opening for a day and time that suits your product or service -- a Saturday morning for a diner; a Friday evening for an ice cream parlor; early evening for a martial arts studio.[18]
- Make it an event. Work hard to build excitement in the days and even weeks leading up to your Grand Opening.
- Use the term "Grand Opening" in your marketing -- it makes it seem more special than just an "open for business" notice. Create excitement by offering prizes, giveaways, demonstrations, special deals, etc., for visitors that day.[19]
- Hire a photographer to capture the event for media (traditional or social) consumption. Bring in live entertainment, extra staffing, even security if you expect an especially large crowd.[20]
- If your business and/or its location aren't conducive to a large public Grand Opening, consider having an event more along the lines of a "launch party" at a nearby restaurant, banquet hall, etc.
- Involve the community. Establish your connection to the local community from the very start of your business. Let people envision your business having a positive community impact for years to come.
- Invite the local press to your event, but also other local business and community leaders. Network with as many as possible and establish yourself as a member of the local team.[21]
- If possible, align your Grand Opening with a community event, when local crowds will already be gathered. Make it seem like a part of that larger celebration. Sponsor the entertainment at the holiday lighting celebration or midsummer festival. Advertise both your business and your deep connection to the community.[22]
- Guarantee a positive customer experience. Plan ahead and do whatever you can to ensure that attendees walk away from your Grand Opening with a positive first impression of your new business. Oversights as simple as inadequate parking, long food lines, or running out of paper products in the restrooms can sour an otherwise enthusiastic reception.[23]
- Have extra staff on hand to make sure customers don't have to wait too long for service or attention.
- If parking may be an issue, try to work out arrangements beforehand with other businesses or community groups -- perhaps setting up satellite parking at a nearby church, for instance.
- Send attendees home with a token of your appreciation -- ideally something with your logo on it -- along with a coupon / special deal for a return visit.
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Play with a Piglet Posted: 15 Jun 2016 01:00 AM PDT Almost everyone knows how to play with a puppy or kitten but, would you know how to play with a piglet if you had the chance? Like most young mammals, piglets are playful when they are young. You can play with a domesticated piglet or a farm pig as long as you're sure it is safe to do so. EditInviting a Piglet to Play - Crouch down so that you're on the piglet's level. Pigs are prey animals and may feel threatened by a human standing over them. Try to sit on the ground next to the piglet or even lay down in front of the piglet so that you are on the same eye level.
- Make eye contact with the piglet and speak in a low calm voice. Piglets can be startled by a high pitched or sing song baby voice.
- Hold your hand out in front of you. Stick out your arm and hold your hand out with your palm facing up and knuckles facing down. Keep in mind that it might take your piglet a while to feel comfortable, especially if you just got him.[1]
- Make sure that the piglet has all of his basic needs met before you try to get him to play. Check to see if he has water, a bed, and food to eat.
- Wiggle your fingers to get the piglet's attention. The piglet should be looking curiously at your hand, from a distance. You may also consider wiggling a treat or a toy in front of you to get the piglet's attention.[2]
- Try offering the piglet a piece of fresh fruit or a tennis ball.
- Call the piglet in a calm, playful voice. Use the piglet's name if it has one and you know it, or just say, "here piggy-pig". You can also try snapping your fingers, and/or making kissing noises to get the piglet's attention.
- Keep in mind that many farm pigs are not named because they will eventually be slaughtered. If you are trying to play with a piglet on a farm, try to avoid giving it a name or you may become too attached.
- Keep it up until a piglet approaches. It might take some time for the piglet to feel comfortable enough to approach you, so try to be patient. If the piglet does not seem interested, leave him be and try again in a few hours.
- Let the piglet sniff your fingertips. He or she will probably try to nibble on your fingers. Be careful because it is possible that the piglet will mistake your fingers for food and bite them. If the piglet starts to nibble a little too hard on your fingers, pull your fingers away.
- Keep a first aid kit handy that includes a bottle of betadine and peroxide just in case you get bit. Clean bites with peroxide then betadine (iodine). You should also make sure that you are current on your tetanus shots before playing with a piglet.
- Allow the piglet to circle you. If the piglet gets close to you, then he may want to investigate you further before deciding to trust you. Try to stay still while the piglet circles you. Keep in mind that the piglet may try to nibble on your clothes and shoes, especially if they smell like feed.
- Reach out slowly and put your hand on the piglet's back. Pat and rub the piglet's back gently. If the piglet runs away, start again at the beginning and repeat the process until the piglet is comfortable being touched by you.
- Give the piglet a belly rub. Start at the sides of the piglet's belly and then move in towards the center of his tummy. Rub the piglet vigorously on its stomach and if you're lucky, he or she will tip over in delight.
- Remember to watch your fingers. Even if the piglet is comfortable with you, she may still try to nibble on your fingers if they smell like food or if she gets curious.
- Play with the piglet as you would play with a puppy. Once the piglet is comfortable with you, you can try playing games with her and introduce some toys as well. Piglets love to play lots of the same games that dogs enjoy.
EditFinding Creative Ways to Entertain a Piglet - Create a rooting box. Pigs love to root around in the mud for roots and other tasty treats. If you have an indoor pig, then you can create a place for your piglet to root in your home by making a rooting box.[3]
- To make a rooting box, place some fist-sized rocks into a large wide box and then add some treats, such as dry cereal and popcorn for your pig to root around and find. It is important to use only fist-size or larger rocks in a rooting box or your pig may accidentally inhale them.
- Make a mud pit. Pigs love to roll around in mud. If you keep your pigs outdoors, then you might consider making a small mud pit for your piglets to enjoy. Add some water to a patch of dry dirt to create mud and then lead you piglet over to the mud so she can investigate it.
- You might also consider filling a kiddie pool with a bit of water for your piglet to cool off. Make sure that the water is not too deep. Your piglet may not know how to swim yet.
- Play fetch. Pigs enjoy interactive games such as fetch, so try tossing a stick, a tennis ball, or a Frisbee to see if your piglet will retrieve it. It might take him a few tries to get the idea, but once he figures out what you want him to do he should start to bring the item back again and again.
- Piglets also enjoy pushing balls around with their noses. Try giving your piglet a big bouncy ball or beach ball to push around her pen or around the house if she is an indoor pig.[4]
- Give your piglet some newspaper. Pigs also like to shred paper, so your piglet might enjoy having a few sheets of newspaper now and then. Try laying out a few pages and then let the piglet investigate them.[5]
- You can also try giving your piglet cardboard boxes, magazines, and other types of paper to shred.
- Swap toys often. Pigs are intelligent animals, so like dogs, they get bored by playing with the same toys over and over again. Try to swap out your piglet's toys once every few days to ensure that she will always be entertained.[6]
- Piglets (and any animal, for that matter) are more likely to warm up to you if they think you've got food for them.
- If it's a hot summer day, splash the piglet gently with water from a hose.
- Piglets absolutely love being scratched/rubbed on the soft skin behind their ears and also eating grass or any kind of plant
- Pigs and piglets like to be rubbed in between their ears.
- If you are going to give the piglet a treat, put it in your palm with your fingers extended as far back as they will go. This is the best way to do this, because the piglet may, in his hurry to gobble up the treat, accidentally bite your hand.
- Always wash your hands with antibacterial soap after you play with a piglet. Since pigs don't have sweat glands, they like to wallow in the mud to cool off. Mud can contain bacteria that you don't want to eat with your next meal, so wash up!
- Most piglets will end up heading for the slaughterhouse, and you should always keep that in mind and try not to become too attached. However, while the piglet is alive you will have a duty to make her life as pleasant as possible. Not only do pigs enjoy human contact, but more importantly they have to be handled routinely so that vet checks and eventual slaughtering will be less traumatic for everyone, including the pig.
- Make sure that the mother pig is secured in a pen before attempting to play with her babies. Mother pigs can be very protective of their Piglets and think that you're trying to have them for dinner. The last thing you want is a 500 lb. pig charging at you.
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