How to Start a Mermaid Business

Start a mermaid business by following these 10 steps:

1. Plan your Mermaid Business
2. Form your Mermaid Business into a Legal Entity
3. Register your Mermaid Business for Taxes
4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
5. Set up Accounting for your Mermaid Business
6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Mermaid Business
7. Get Mermaid Business Insurance
8. Define your Mermaid Business Brand
9. Create your Mermaid Business Website
10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your mermaid business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

• What will you name your business?
• What are the startup and ongoing costs?
• Who is your target market?
• How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Mermaid Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

• Your state's business records
• Federal and state trademark records
• Social media platforms
• Web domain availability.

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a mermaid business?

The startup expenses for a mermaid business are manageable, with the biggest expense being the cost of a tail. Mertailor has some tails for $495, but this is the low end of the price range. A tail can cost as much as $25,000 or more.

Other marketing expenses include building a website, purchasing marketing materials and assembling the rest of a costume. Linden has lots of tips on how to make the rest of the costume inexpensively. For example, she uses fishnet stockings and blue cream to create scales. She also makes her own top, from a bra base, shells, fake seaweed and waterproof glue.

Business owners who have limited funds can lower the cost of a tail by renting one at first. After saving up, they can purchase a tail. The other expenses are minimal, especially if business owners do everything themselves.

What are the ongoing expenses for a mermaid business?

A mermaid business’ ongoing expenses are minimal. They include costume maintenance, marketing and transportation to bookings.

Who is the target market?

A mermaid business’ most steady work usually comes from children’s birthday parties, so kids and parents are a good target market to initially focus on. As a business grows, business owners can pitch themselves to organizers events in the area.

How does a mermaid business make money?

A mermaid business makes money by charging booking fees. Fees are usually charged by the hour.

How much can you charge customers?

The going rate for children’s events is reported to be $250 per hour, although this may vary some by location. Linden receives up to $6,000 per booking for special events.

How much profit can a mermaid business make?

A successful mermaid business can bring in a significant revenue. In just one day, a business owner could have three two-hour bookings. At a rate of $250 per hour, income from this day would be $750. Even working just weekends, a mermaid business could make $1500 per week.

Linden’s rate of $6,000 per appearance is exceptional but shows how much the most successful mermaids can earn.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Mermaid business owners have found many ways to diversify and increase revenue. Linden has written a book and has many YouTube videos, and Aqua Mermaid offers courses for aspiring mermaids. Other methods include offering mermaid fitness classes and selling calendars.

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation.

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your mermaid business is sued.

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

• Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

• Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
• Build your company's credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a mermaid business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

Is this Business Right For You?

Anyone who enjoys the water and being with people may like running a mermaid business, for much of the work involves entertaining people at water-related events (e.g. pool parties, beach festivals, etc.).

While the industry is dominated by mermaids, men also can start this type of business. There are challenges for men who enter the female-dominated industry, but several mermen are having success.

What happens during a typical day at a mermaid business?

Attending an event as a mermaid involves much more than simply showing up for the booked time. Mermaids must prep themselves, drive to the location, and put on their tail (without being seen) before the event itself. After entertaining during the event, mermaids remove their tail (again, without being seen) and go home.

On a fully booked Saturday or Sunday, mermaids might do all of this multiple times. Linden Wolbert, perhaps the world’s most successful mermaid, will do up to three parties in a single day.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful mermaid business?

Working as a mermaid is more than simply sitting or swimming with a tail on. Business owners need to cultivate a mermaid character, with its own accent, personality and looks. General acting experience helps with this, as does mermaid-specific experience.

To get general acting training, business owners can enroll in workshops and classes near them. Many community colleges, theaters and improv groups have acting programs, and these in-person programs are often preferable to online classes.

For mermaid-specific tips, there are several resources to consult. Aqua Mermaid has an in-person training program, and local clubs, like Halifax Mermaids, sometimes offer regular classes for mermaid enthusiasts. Additionally, Linden’s Fishy Business book and So You Want to Be a Mermaid series have helpful tips.

Along with acting, mermaids must be in good physical shape. Mermaids not only are models, but they also must swim with tails that weigh up to 35 pounds and sometimes have additional weights in them. Moreover, the “dolphin kick” swimming motion is done from the hips, which requires a strong core.

What is the growth potential for a mermaid business?

Most mermaid businesses remain small businesses because they’re built around the business owner’s mermaid character (see below). When the time is right, business owners might increase their fees or seek more high-profile appearances to grow their business. This strategy has proved successful for Linden, who makes appearances around the world, from Florida to Australia.