MOFIB forum members are a pretty diverse lot. I see posts from around the world and all over the marine breeding spectrum. So what would you classify yourself as?
Hobbyist: Breeds a few fish or corals, trades them to the LFS or other hobbyists, participates in frag swaps, etc. Doesn't earn enough to break even on the hobby, but it's fun.
Serious Amateur: Has a decent breeding setup, dedicated just to breeding or propagating corals. Sells to other hobbyists, fish stores, frag swaps or online. Breaks even or slightly better, but not enough be a formal business.
Small Breeder: One man (or family) shop but does it for primary income (or secondary to a spouse's income, retirement, etc.). Keeps careful books, pays taxes, has all the permits from the government agencies and does better than break even. It's a business, not a hobby.
Commercial Breeder: Corporation, employees, large production, deals almost exclusively through distributors. You have ads in the hobbyist magazines and sponsor web sites. You may just be an employee in this organization, but it's a job that pays your salary and has a return on investment.
Institution: You work for a public aquarium, university or government agency. You have a full-time job breeding or doing research, but sales of your product are irrelevant. You're doing research, not commercial production. You close the life cycle on a new species and pass the information along, others will turn it into a commercial success. Or failure.
Me, I'm at the serious amateur stage looking to move to the small breeder category. I have a decent job and will have an okay retirement in the next ten years or so, but I'm going to need to supplement it. I've enjoyed it at the hobbyist level and need to find out if I can make it at the next level. But I have a number of years to ramp up.
So, where are you?
Jeff