Short version:
When I was 18 I was in a terrible car wreck that damaged my spine and put me in a hospital bed for a nice long while. My settlement with the trucking company (big truck, small road, illegal) left me with $12,000.
My girlfriend at the time had once worked for her parent's pet store and made a killing in the late 80s, early 90s. So, I teamed up with her dad and opened a store in Meridian, MS.
I soon moved up to a humongous Pet-Smartish superstore (aquariums/fish, reptiles, birds, small animals, dogs/cats, supplies and grooming), and a year later moved back to Hattiesburg and opened another store there leaving her sister in charge of the Meridian store.
Her sister ran the place into the ground, and I broke up with said girlfriend . So, eventually, after 2+ years of being in the pet business, I offered to sell my portion of the business to the family of my former girlfriend. This left me almost broke, because the business had accumulated a lot of debt.
I got a job working construction and went on a walkabout for a while before reintering the human race.
Lessons:
1. Never go into business with people you feel as if you owe some sort of allegiance to above the operation of the business. (family, pseudo-family, really close friends...)
2. Pet stores require 100 percent of your attention and time. The bigger the store(s), the more problems. Unlike businesses that deal in dry goods or services, pet stores need constant upkeep to keep the products alive and sellable. Never own a pet store.
3. If you suddenly start making more money than you ever have before, don't immediately buy a new car, move into a new apartment, eat out three times a day and go to the club every night.
4. Don't move to Meridian, MS.
5. Never date anyone who has a cult-like family with 'issues' if they cannot cleave their life from the concerns of their batshit insane parents and sister. Also, don't take that a step further by opening a business with them.
6. When you realize you don't love someone or share anything with them at your core, leave them, no matter how it affects you financially.
Seriously, I was stupid and wasted a few years of my life. But, thankfully, I wised up and committed myself to never looking back. Unfortunately, I hate many aspects of domesticated animals in a way none of you could ever comprehend.
