How to Become a Koi Pond Keeper

When choosing a career, seriously consider pursuing what you love to do. If you have a passion for raising koi, there's no reason that you can't tap into that passion. You can build a career that not only supports you and your family, but keeps you satisfied for years to come. But if you want to become a koi pond keeper, there are some tricks to beginning the trade.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Get business savvy. There aren't a lot of existing jobs for koi pond keepers, so you might want to start your own business and drum up your own client base. Understanding the fundamentals of advertising, pricing and bookkeeping will go a long way to making your dream successful.
2. Live where the weather is nice. Koi ponds generally do better in warmer climates, so choosing to live somewhere like Hawaii will help you develop a business that can support you year-round. If you live somewhere colder, you should target indoor koi ponds or develop another strategy to compensate for the cold winter months.
3. Know koi ponds well. A good koi pond keeper knows all the tricks to raising koi successfully. You should have several years' experience as a hobbyist and have dabbled in working for others on the side. The more experience you have, the easier it is to land bigger clients. Pond design experience is also a plus.
4. Decide what to offer your client base. You can maintain existing ponds, or you can help clients start their ponds from scratch. You may also offer services such as breeding and helping choose koi fish to complete their ponds. Some customers may want you to handle all aspects of the pond, including removal and replacement of expired fish. Decide what to offer, and then come up with prices for each service.
5. Create a service contract. Hire a legal professional to draw up papers that you can have your clients sign once they hire you to maintain their koi pond. This should include terms of service, as well as payment expectations.
6. Obtain the necessary equipment. You need a truck, cleaning supplies and various other items to maintain your job as a koi pond keeper. In the beginning, you'll have to take out a business loan or use your own savings to buy the items you need.
7. Market yourself to koi ponds in the area. Using word of mouth, the Internet and local avenues, begin getting the word out that you're open for business. In the beginning, you may find yourself negotiating on prices just to get the business, but eventually you'll gain a client base.