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PrintMoney Monday: The Butterfly Guy
Posted: 02/04/13
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Leisa Williams
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How many times have you wished you were your own boss with your own business? In tonight's Money Monday, 7's Lynn Martinez shows us how one man took a crazy idea and made it fly.
WSVN -- Jose Muniz is a farmer of sorts.
Jose Muniz: "I'm the butterfly guy."
He's not kidding. Jose actually breeds butterflies, then sells them on his website, amazing butterflies.com.
Jose Muniz: "I had to learn on my own how to become a butterfly farmer.
In the short term, I learned very quickly i am not a farmer. I'm a good entrepreneur selling things on the internet."
These days, Jose farms out the butterfly breeding to local farmers while he concentrates on marketing and sales.
Jose Muniz: "Up until the crash of 2007, we were doing close to $1 million a year in sales."
People buy butterflies to release them. Setting them free is a powerful symbol of hope and change celebrated at weddings, fundraisers, all kinds of occasions. The butterflies cost $65 to $95 dollars a dozen, and if you have a yard, you can do it.
Jose Muniz: "You can raise 100 to 300 butterflies a week, so you're looking at 1,000, 1,200 butterflies a month."
Jose says if you have an idea for a business, research it. See how much it will cost to start up. Make sure you have enough clients and a business plan.
Jose Muniz: "My advice to anybody would be, 'Don't be afraid, just go for it.'" What's the worst that can happen?"
To limit losses, start off part-time from home. If you're successful, you can quit your day job and grow your business full-time. But most of all, do something that you enjoy.
Jose Muniz: "It will give you the experience and the fortitude to try the next thing, until you find that one thing that works for you that makes you happy."
Jose also sells butterfly art, books and other accesories online. If you'd like to know more about his butterflies, or about starting a business, just go to our website. And if you have story ideas for Money Monday, email us at moneymonday@wsvn.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Amazing Butterflies
Amazingbutterflies.com
Small Business Administration
http://www.sba.gov/content/follow-these-10-steps-starting-business
Jose Muniz: "I'm the butterfly guy."
He's not kidding. Jose actually breeds butterflies, then sells them on his website, amazing butterflies.com.
Jose Muniz: "I had to learn on my own how to become a butterfly farmer.
In the short term, I learned very quickly i am not a farmer. I'm a good entrepreneur selling things on the internet."
These days, Jose farms out the butterfly breeding to local farmers while he concentrates on marketing and sales.
Jose Muniz: "Up until the crash of 2007, we were doing close to $1 million a year in sales."
People buy butterflies to release them. Setting them free is a powerful symbol of hope and change celebrated at weddings, fundraisers, all kinds of occasions. The butterflies cost $65 to $95 dollars a dozen, and if you have a yard, you can do it.
Jose Muniz: "You can raise 100 to 300 butterflies a week, so you're looking at 1,000, 1,200 butterflies a month."
Jose says if you have an idea for a business, research it. See how much it will cost to start up. Make sure you have enough clients and a business plan.
Jose Muniz: "My advice to anybody would be, 'Don't be afraid, just go for it.'" What's the worst that can happen?"
To limit losses, start off part-time from home. If you're successful, you can quit your day job and grow your business full-time. But most of all, do something that you enjoy.
Jose Muniz: "It will give you the experience and the fortitude to try the next thing, until you find that one thing that works for you that makes you happy."
Jose also sells butterfly art, books and other accesories online. If you'd like to know more about his butterflies, or about starting a business, just go to our website. And if you have story ideas for Money Monday, email us at moneymonday@wsvn.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Amazing Butterflies
Amazingbutterflies.com
Small Business Administration
http://www.sba.gov/content/follow-these-10-steps-starting-business