Is it worth opening your own retail outlet in the market? How to open a retail outlet at the market - advice from experienced people
90% of people are sure that opening coffee to go is easy. On the one hand, they are right. The only clarification is that you can simply and easily open coffee to go only if you know how to do it correctly. Despite the fact that at first glance the format of coffee to go seems simple, like any other business, ignorance of the subtleties and nuances can turn a profitable and promising business idea into an unprofitable enterprise that operates at zero and sucks out the last pennies.
To avoid such a situation, you need to know where to start and which stages of the business you should pay utmost attention to.
For example, you need to start with the definition target audience coffee to go. By asking yourself who will buy your coffee, you can adjust the design, strategy, and concept of your small enterprise to the needs and requests, interests and desires of specific people - your future customers.
The target audience for coffee to go is mainly young people aged 18 to 24 years. In 70% of cases these are girls.
Students, young professionals, managers lower level- these are your potential clients. They appreciate low prices, friendly service, efficiency and social activity. Of course, older people shouldn’t be discounted either; there are also fans of takeaway coffee among people over 50. But if you face the truth, answer yourself the question: how many of these fans will pass by your takeaway coffee outlet every day and how many of them will think about purchasing?
But it is the number of people passing by, coupled with their “quality” (belonging to the target audience) that is the key to the success of a coffee to-go outlet. Finding a place like this is half the battle for coffee to go.
However, we should not forget about another important fact for the coffee to go business. This is the taste and quality of the coffee itself. If you prepare delicious invigorating drinks, people will come back to you and recommend you to friends and acquaintances. This way you can ensure that spontaneous purchases will be reduced, and the number regular customers increase.
We will talk about all these subtleties and other important details further.
Investment size
Opening a takeaway coffee shop can be considered a business with small investments. According to the experience of entrepreneurs who have opened their own coffee points to go, you can meet 200 thousand rubles, and the upper limit starting capital is unlikely to exceed 400 thousand rubles.
This difference in initial capital is explained by ample opportunities to save.
Of course, the amount of funds required to start will largely depend on several large expenses, without which it is simply impossible to open a takeaway coffee shop. Firstly, this is rent, which we will talk about a little later. Secondly - equipment.
Coffee machines for coffee to go
If the flow of customers depends on the choice of rental location, then the ability of the point to quickly and efficiently service this flow will depend on the equipment on which you will prepare coffee.
A professional coffee machine and coffee grinder are the main means of preparing and selling coffee to go.
There is no point in bringing a home coffee machine or even a super-automatic coffee machine to your coffee spot. Firstly, such equipment will not be able to provide the required quality of the product, and secondly, it is not designed for constant and uninterrupted operation. And if the coffee machine breaks down, you won’t sell a single cup of coffee anymore. Remember, the miser pays twice: time wasted, money wasted.
That is why many entrepreneurs try to purchase high-quality, foreign equipment, the cost of which can be 150, 250 thousand rubles, or more. If you don’t have that kind of money, but working with professional equipment is still a priority for you, renting equipment or buying used coffee machines can come to your rescue.
Typically, coffee equipment is provided for rent (even free of charge) by coffee bean suppliers, subject to the purchase of a certain volume of coffee from them. At the same time, they also advise on the selection of the necessary list of equipment depending on the expected amount of work (for example, single- or double-chamber coffee machines) and provide maintenance and repair of equipment. However, even in the case of free rent, many companies require a security deposit - from 20 to 50 thousand rubles.
As for used equipment, its purchase will cost no more than 100 thousand rubles.
What else will you have to spend money on?
You will also have to spend money on a sales counter or the design of a rented kiosk. Naturally, when developing appearance When it comes to coffee to go, you need to pay attention to ensure that it attracts attention and attracts glances. The appearance should evoke a reflexive desire to drink coffee or tea. The name on the sign should not subtly hint that an invigorating drink is being poured here, but shout about it, so that a person understands at first glance that you are offering coffee, and not selling donuts or SIM cards...
Returning to the investments required to open a coffee-to-go business, it is also worth mentioning all sorts of little things that are nevertheless important for comfortable work without failures or hiccups.
Purchase of consumables for preparing a variety of coffee drinks - milk, toppings and syrups; additional assortment - snacks, sweets and snacks; purchase of disposable cups, lids, spoons; purchase of bar equipment.
By the way, there is an option to save on the purchase of consumables - for example, disposable tableware, if you can cooperate with other takeaway coffee owners who purchase unbranded cups.
Step-by-step instruction
Having calculated the required amount of investment in the coffee-to-go business, it’s time to start taking action.
To begin with, register your business legally. It would be best to register yourself as an individual entrepreneur and submit an application to the tax office to choose the UTII taxation system. This tax will allow you to pay less due to the lack of employees and the small rented area on which the activity is carried out. Taking into account the minimum required area of a coffee to-go outlet of several square meters, you will pay an average tax of about 3,000 rubles. In addition, for individual entrepreneurs on UTII cash machine is not mandatory, which means you can issue a check only on demand using a regular CPM (check printing machine).
The OKVED code for the coffee-to-go business is 55.30 “Activities of restaurants and cafes.”
Despite this OKVED, there is no need to obtain any permits, since there is no full-fledged kitchen, which means there is nothing for the supervisory authorities to check. All that is required of you is to notify Rospotrebnadzor about the start of activity. You should wait for inspections from the SES only if there are complaints. If you are lucky, you will have your first meeting with inspections only in three years.
Attention to the workplace
It’s worth taking care of ordering a sales stand in advance. Its design and production will take at least two weeks. Provided that you already have a chosen rental location.
The process of installing a counter, bar or kiosk equipment can also cause difficulties and problems that will lead to a postponement of the planned opening date.
For example, you need to take care of proper energy supply in advance. If it is not there, you will have to call an electrician and install an additional line, which will need to be agreed upon with the landlord. Therefore, all issues related to electricity, heating or water supply must be resolved at the stage of signing the lease agreement. At the same time, the contract itself should not be concluded for a long period: your expectations about traffic may be erroneous and in practice the pedestrian flow will not be converted into buyers and clients...
From coffee to cookies: how to choose a supplier?
Naturally, in parallel you need to look for suppliers of consumables and raw materials.
And first of all, you need to decide on a supplier of coffee beans. If your customers don't like your coffee, everything is lost. Delicious coffee is one of the main components of the success of a coffee to go business. There are a huge number of coffee varieties that suppliers can offer. Your own taste, advice from the suppliers themselves, and analysis of competitors will help you navigate your choice.
If you purchase your own coffee equipment, you will not depend on a specific coffee supplier and the range of varieties offered may be much wider.
Find out whether the variety you choose is suitable for classic coffee drinks, since it is the usual espresso, latte, cappuccino, Americano and mochaccino that you will specialize in. The volume of the initial purchase will depend on the conditions under which you sign an agreement with the supplier, whether you will rent equipment, etc. There is no need to be afraid of numbers of 10 kg or more.
A small 200 ml glass of coffee requires 9 g of coffee, and 18 g for a 400 ml glass.
Thus, the purchased 10 kg of coffee will cost just over 1,100 small glasses of coffee. At the same time, an operating coffee to-go outlet in a passable place sells much more per month.
In addition to the coffee list, it is necessary to create a menu and a list of additional assortments. Will you sell a variety of chocolates and sweets, or maybe ready-made sandwiches or even baked goods?
If the answer to this question is affirmative, you should look for profitable suppliers or partners who could provide you with the required amount of products, usually not too large. You can buy chocolates or oatmeal cookies at wholesale markets and stores, as well as in stores such as Metro, Lenta and Auchan.
Of course, the main component for a coffee to-go outlet will remain coffee as a drink, and various sweets and “snacks” are necessary rather only to increase the average bill and the convenience of the client. You are unlikely to be able to make money from chocolates or pastries. Still, the margin on resale of other people's products is small.
In general, the volume of additional assortment does not exceed 5-7% of turnover.
The assortment of snacks and coffee accompaniments will change - some items will disappear, others will be added. It is definitely necessary to experiment with the assortment, but only when the operation of the outlet stabilizes and the changes do not entail a sharp decline in revenue.
Barista for coffee to go
An important factor in the success of a coffee to-go outlet is the professionalism and competence of the barista. This person must not only prepare delicious coffee, but also serve customers correctly, communicate with them, and be able to upsell, thereby increasing the average bill. Finding and hiring such a person may pose certain difficulties both at the launch stage and during the first time of working with coffee to go.
When opening their first to-go coffee shop, entrepreneurs often personally stand at the counter and serve their first customers, working 12 hours a day without days off or lunch. But such work on two fronts quickly becomes exhausting. In any case, an entrepreneur will need a replacement or a full-time employee. At the same time, hiring a professional barista is not always possible. Mostly young people who don’t have the slightest idea about how to prepare coffee correctly apply for the vacancy of a barista at a coffee shop to go. She's attracted to the flexible schedule hourly payment etc.
Careless young baristas bring their friends to work with them for coffee so they don’t get bored. And instead of working, they organize a booth.
A special feature of working with the staff of a coffee to go point is a high staff turnover - which will only stop when you hire the right person- friendly, honest, hardworking and responsible, who will also quickly master the art of making delicious and high-quality coffee. Agree, such people, especially young ones, are rare today...
Therefore, the future owner of coffee to go will initially be faced with the task of finding and training reliable person, who can replace you at the counter. Subsequently, if you do not stop at opening one coffee shop to go, the need for employees will increase. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately determine the stages of selection and training of employees, as well as develop a shift schedule, a system of motivation and control.
One of the options for motivating baristas is bonuses or premiums for exceeding the sales plan and the absence of comments (a percentage of total revenue or a percentage of each coffee sold above the plan).
But even the motivation system does not insure against unscrupulous workers who do not show up for their shifts, create a booth at the point, or simply treat work superficially. The owner of a takeaway coffee is faced with the acute issue of monitoring an employee or shift worker.
Alternatively, you can install a surveillance camera at the coffee to-go point and thus monitor the employee online.
Regardless of which option for working with staff you choose - carrot or stick - when opening a coffee shop with you, be prepared that at any moment you will be forced to personally stand behind the counter and work as a barista.
If you are planning to open a takeaway coffee shop, know that all your profit will depend primarily on the location. At the same time, choosing a suitable location for a coffee to-go outlet can be one big problem.
A couple of years ago, when no one had heard of takeaway coffee, landlords, especially large shopping and business centers, did not understand how you could make coffee in three square meters and refused to rent. Today, almost all the tasty places in more or less large shopping centers and business centers have long been occupied.
However, the rental market is quite competitive and involves a change of tenants. It's just a matter of price. If you find a sweet spot, but it's occupied, it's worth starting negotiations with the owner or rental department, find out the rental rate and offer to pay more, or convince that your coffee to-go spot can generate additional traffic and attract a certain audience.
By the way, you can open a takeaway coffee shop not only in big cities, where the lifestyle encourages people to do everything on the run, including drinking coffee, but also in small towns. Moreover, choose a good place for coffee to go in small town It’s even simpler - there are fewer points with high pedestrian traffic in small cities, which means the likelihood of choosing a bad place is reduced.
However, it is still quite easy to make a mistake when choosing a place to rent for a coffee to go outlet. It often happens that a location seems to have high traffic, but it is only possible to evaluate its quality once you start working. For example, it may turn out that there is simply no target audience among the traffic passing by. Or the point itself is not located in the flow of people, as it should, but “around the corner.”
When considering locations for coffee to go, you don’t need to limit yourself to rental options in shopping or business centers.
Privacy agreement
and processing of personal data
1. General Provisions
1.1. This agreement on confidentiality and processing of personal data (hereinafter referred to as the Agreement) was accepted freely and of its own free will, and applies to all information that Insales Rus LLC and/or its affiliates, including all persons included in the same group with LLC "Insails Rus" (including LLC "EKAM Service") can obtain information about the User while using any of the sites, services, services, computer programs, products or services of LLC "Insails Rus" (hereinafter referred to as the Services) and in during the execution of Insales Rus LLC any agreements and contracts with the User. The User's consent to the Agreement, expressed by him within the framework of relations with one of the listed persons, applies to all other listed persons.
1.2.Use of the Services means the User agrees with this Agreement and the terms and conditions specified therein; in case of disagreement with these terms, the User must refrain from using the Services.
"Insales"- Limited Liability Company "Insails Rus", OGRN 1117746506514, INN 7714843760, KPP 771401001, registered at the address: 125319, Moscow, Akademika Ilyushina St., 4, building 1, office 11 (hereinafter referred to as "Insails" ), on the one hand, and
"User" -
or an individual who has legal capacity and is recognized as a participant in civil legal relations in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation;
or entity, registered in accordance with the legislation of the state of which such person is a resident;
or individual entrepreneur registered in accordance with the laws of the state of which such person is a resident;
which has accepted the terms of this Agreement.
1.4. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Parties have determined that confidential information is information of any nature (production, technical, economic, organizational and others), including the results of intellectual activity, as well as information about methods of implementation professional activity(including, but not limited to: information about products, works and services; information about technologies and research works; data about technical systems and equipment, including software elements; business forecasts and information about proposed purchases; requirements and specifications of specific partners and potential partners; information related to intellectual property, as well as plans and technologies related to all of the above) communicated by one party to the other in written and/or electronic form, clearly designated by the Party as its confidential information.
1.5. The purpose of this Agreement is to protect confidential information that the Parties will exchange during negotiations, concluding contracts and fulfilling obligations, as well as any other interaction (including, but not limited to, consulting, requesting and providing information, and performing other orders).
2. Responsibilities of the Parties
2.1.The parties agree to keep all confidential information received by one Party from the other Party during the interaction of the Parties, not disclose, disclose, make public or otherwise provide such information to any third party without the prior written permission of the other Party, except for the cases specified in the current legislation, when the provision of such information is the responsibility of the Parties.
2.2.Each Party will take all necessary measures to protect confidential information using at least the same measures that the Party uses to protect its own confidential information. Access to confidential information is provided only to those employees of each Party who reasonably need it to perform their official duties under this Agreement.
2.3. The obligation to keep confidential information secret is valid within the validity period of this Agreement, the license agreement for computer programs dated December 1, 2016, the agreement to join the license agreement for computer programs, agency and other agreements and for five years after termination their actions, unless otherwise separately agreed by the Parties.
(a) if the information provided has become publicly available without a violation of the obligations of one of the Parties;
(b) if the information provided became known to a Party as a result of its own research, systematic observations or other activities carried out without the use of confidential information received from the other Party;
(c) if the information provided is lawfully received from a third party without an obligation to keep it secret until it is provided by one of the Parties;
(d) if the information is provided at the written request of a government agency, other government agency, or local government body in order to perform their functions and its disclosure to these bodies is mandatory for the Party. In this case, the Party must immediately notify the other Party of the received request;
(e) if the information is provided to a third party with the consent of the Party about which the information is transferred.
2.5.Insales does not verify the accuracy of the information provided by the User and does not have the ability to assess his legal capacity.
2.6. The information that the User provides to Insales when registering in the Services is not personal data, as defined in Federal Law of the Russian Federation No. 152-FZ of July 27, 2006. “About personal data.”
2.7.Insales has the right to make changes to this Agreement. When changes are made to the current edition, the date is indicated last update. The new version of the Agreement comes into force from the moment it is posted, unless otherwise provided new edition Agreements.
2.8. By accepting this Agreement, the User understands and agrees that Insales may send the User personalized messages and information (including, but not limited to) to improve the quality of the Services, to develop new products, to create and send personal offers to the User, to inform the User about changes in Tariff plans and updates, to send the User marketing materials on the subject of the Services, to protect the Services and Users and for other purposes.
The user has the right to refuse to receive the above information by notifying in writing to the email address Insales -.
2.9. By accepting this Agreement, the User understands and agrees that Insales Services may use cookies, counters, and other technologies to ensure the functionality of the Services in general or their individual functions in particular, and the User has no claims against Insales in connection with this.
2.10.The user understands that the equipment and software, used by him to visit sites on the Internet, may have the function of prohibiting operations with cookies (for any sites or for specific sites), as well as deleting previously received cookies.
Insales has the right to establish that the provision of a certain Service is possible only on the condition that the acceptance and receipt of cookies is permitted by the User.
2.11. The user is independently responsible for the security of the means he has chosen to access his account, and also independently ensures their confidentiality. The User is solely responsible for all actions (as well as their consequences) within or using the Services under the User’s account, including cases of voluntary transfer by the User of data to access the User’s account to third parties under any conditions (including under contracts or agreements) . In this case, all actions within or using the Services under the User’s account are considered to be carried out by the User himself, except in cases where the User notified Insales of unauthorized access to the Services using the User’s account and/or of any violation (suspicion of violation) of the confidentiality of his means of accessing your account.
2.12. The User is obliged to immediately notify Insales of any case of unauthorized (not authorized by the User) access to the Services using the User’s account and/or of any violation (suspicion of violation) of the confidentiality of their means of access to the account. For security purposes, the User is obliged to independently safely shut down work under his account at the end of each session of working with the Services. Insales is not responsible for possible loss or damage to data, as well as other consequences of any nature that may occur due to the User’s violation of the provisions of this part of the Agreement.
3. Responsibility of the Parties
3.1. The Party that has violated the obligations stipulated by the Agreement regarding the protection of confidential information transferred under the Agreement is obliged, at the request of the injured Party, to compensate for the actual damage caused by such violation of the terms of the Agreement in accordance with the current legislation of the Russian Federation.
3.2. Compensation for damage does not terminate the obligations of the violating Party to properly fulfill its obligations under the Agreement.
4.Other provisions
4.1. All notices, requests, demands and other correspondence under this Agreement, including those including confidential information, must be in writing and delivered personally or via courier, or sent by email to the addresses specified in the license agreement for computer programs dated 12/01/2016, the agreement of accession to the license agreement for computer programs and in this Agreement or other addresses that may subsequently be specified in writing by the Party.
4.2. If one or more provisions (conditions) of this Agreement are or become invalid, then this cannot serve as a reason for termination of the other provisions (conditions).
4.3. This Agreement and the relationship between the User and Insales arising in connection with the application of the Agreement are subject to the law of the Russian Federation.
4.3. The User has the right to send all suggestions or questions regarding this Agreement to the Insales User Support Service or to the postal address: 107078, Moscow, st. Novoryazanskaya, 18, building 11-12 BC “Stendhal” LLC “Insales Rus”.
Publication date: 12/01/2016
Full name in Russian:
Limited Liability Company "Insales Rus"
Abbreviated name in Russian:
LLC "Insales Rus"
Name in English:
InSales Rus Limited Liability Company (InSales Rus LLC)
Legal address:
125319, Moscow, st. Akademika Ilyushina, 4, building 1, office 11
Mailing address:
107078, Moscow, st. Novoryazanskaya, 18, building 11-12, BC “Stendhal”
INN: 7714843760 Checkpoint: 771401001
Bank details:
The idea of opening a small grocery store often arises as an idea for a profitable business in a small town. Indeed, even a small grocery store can become a source of stable income.Not so long ago, in order to make money from trading, small investments, unsuitable premises and unobtrusive service were enough. Nowadays the retail industry is very competitive, so the approach to organizing the work of a store must be serious.
Opening a grocery store in a residential building is not always easy. If the high-rise building does not have special retail space, then to do this you will have to buy a couple of apartments and convert them into non-residential premises. It may turn out challenging task, because you will have to make a separate entrance, agree with the meeting of residents on the use of common property (facade, roof, basement), obtain permission for redevelopment, etc. In some cases, renting space for a store will be the best option.
Choosing premises for a store is one of the key issues with which you need to begin implementing your idea. But that's not all. In our instructions, you will learn about other important factors for retail that directly affect your entrepreneurial success. So, let's open a grocery store.
Your own store: how to open a grocery store from scratch
Are you planning to open your own business? Don’t forget about the current account - it will simplify doing business, paying taxes and insurance premiums. Moreover, now many banks offer favorable conditions for opening and maintaining a current account. You can view the offers here.
How to open a grocery store from scratch: step-by-step instructions
If you want to learn how to open a grocery store, then our step-by-step instructions will help you with this. Where to begin? Marketers are confident that for the success of retail trade, the most important thing will be the choice of location and assortment of the store, so the first point of our step by step instructions It will be just a choice of location.
- Select a store location. You can open a store in a separate building, in a multi-storey residential building or on the territory of a shopping center. Each option will have its pros and cons, but you need to focus on the expected customer flow. It is preferable to choose a more expensive premises with more traffic than a cheap one, but where there are few potential buyers.
- Register an individual entrepreneur or LLC, full description You can find out these organizational and legal forms in the article “”? Please note that if you want to sell alcohol, you must register an LLC.
- Select a tax regime and calculate. You will have a little time after state registration to decide on the choice of mode, otherwise you will remain stuck common system taxation. And this is difficult and unprofitable. In addition, the need to purchase a cash register depends on the chosen tax regime.
- Make a technical project and obtain permits to open a grocery store. We have already described above what permissions are needed for this.
- Purchase and install commercial equipment.
- Define your target audience. Who will be your buyer: housewives of several neighboring high-rise buildings; business center employees; discerning consumers of gourmet foods? The solvency of your category of potential buyers must be taken into account when choosing assortment for the store.
- Select several suppliers of goods for your store, find out under what conditions they work: delivery times, minimum purchase quantities, availability of quality certificates. Purchase the first batch of goods to start the store.
- Report the opening of the store to Rospotrebnadzor by submitting a notification.
- Make a deal with your employees.
- Launch advertising and arrange a store opening.
Video: "How to open a grocery store from scratch?"
A small business can be started with a small retail store. In this case, the risk of bankruptcy is minimal, and this starting option will be the most optimal.
And this article will help answer questions about how to open outlet from scratch, where to open it, how to choose the right range of goods sold, organize a pricing policy and keep records correctly.
To begin with, the amount of starting capital is determined and the products sold are selected. A search is made for suppliers whose conditions are favorable and convenient for those opening office work. At the first stage, it is recommended to select related product groups.
When opening a retail outlet in public places - in a market or in a shopping center, registration of an individual entrepreneur will be required.
Moreover, the optimal choice of the system by which taxes will be paid to the state is important. The most common tax system is the simplified tax system. 
The selection of the location where the retail outlet will be located is carried out very carefully. Competitors' stores should not be located in close proximity to the opening outlet.
Having decided on the location, you can agree on the cost and rental conditions. When concluding a lease agreement, you should pay attention to the possibility of early termination.
Purchasing retail equipment to create the appearance and design of the store will greatly influence loyalty and trust potential clients.
Hiring a salesperson is mandatory so that the businessman has time to do other things organizational issues. The friendliness of the seller and his good guidance in the assortment will affect the success of the retail trade and its profitability.
Price policy
The cost of the proposed product should be thought out depending on the capabilities of the target audience - whether it will be a budget product designed for a large part of the population, or an elite one.
Where to start if you want to open your own store? Which store is better to open and how to choose a product to sell? How much does it cost to open your own small store and how to do it from scratch?
Hello, dear readers of the business magazine HeatherBober.ru. This is the entrepreneur and website author Alexander Berezhnov.
When beginning entrepreneurs have a question about what kind of business to start, many choose the simplest and most obvious thing - retail trade, namely opening their own outlet or store, which is essentially the same thing.
The article will be especially interesting for a beginner who has decided to open a store without sufficient experience. After studying it, you will learn about all the secrets and nuances of this business.
The information in the article is universal for opening any type of store.
For example, if you decide to open a clothing store, auto parts store, children's store or grocery store, then you will have to go through the same steps. Here you will also find guidelines for opening the most common types of stores. This will be especially relevant for you if you have not yet decided which store is profitable to open.
Now I will tell you everything in order!
1. What you need to know to open a profitable store
Dear friend, the most important thing is that you must understand that the vast majority of people come up with the idea of opening a store as a seemingly simple commercial project.
For clarity, I propose to consider the objective pros and cons of your store as a business. This will make it easier for you to decide which store to open and what to pay attention to.
pros (+) your store as a business
1. Clear for the average person
This is why most budding entrepreneurs consider their own store as their first project. Since childhood, we have become accustomed to seeing markets, stalls and even supermarkets, where today you can buy almost everything.
The truth is that a person is reluctant to take on a task that he does not understand. In the case of a store, it seems to us that we will have the least amount of problems. But this is only partly true.
2. Ease of implementation of the idea
In general, in trade, 99% of all business processes have long been worked out.
It’s not for nothing that, having opened one store, its owner often does not stop even when the right approach to the point, retail outlets are multiplying like mushrooms after rain.
Indeed, all you need is not to reinvent the wheel and follow the beaten path, which should lead to success in your business, unless, of course, you “punch up some mistakes” at the very beginning.
3. Ease of calculations (forecasting income and expenses)
Trade is the most understandable business also from the point of view of calculations. You have the cost of the goods, the trade margin and the expenses that you incur.
4. Stability of the business when it is promoted
A well-established retail outlet is a paradise for its owner. For example, a “brisk” grocery store in a residential area of the city can provide you with a comfortable life, even despite nearby competitors.
5. Opportunity to sell your store as ready business
Having built the entire store management system correctly, you can only occasionally coordinate the main processes; all things will proceed by inertia. So you will become the owner completely autonomous system, making a profit.
Naturally, many people who have capital but do not want to open their own store from scratch will want to become the owner of such a “tidbit.”
Nowadays, selling a ready-made business is as easy as selling a car or an apartment; you just need to notify potential clients that you are selling your profitable store.
Minuses (-) your store as a business
1. High competition
The downside to the simplicity and clarity of opening a store is high level competition. After all, there are a lot of people who want to become the owner of their own retail outlet. Every second entrepreneur wants to open his own store in one field or another. This makes it very difficult to start in this business and its further development.
2. Relatively high barrier to entry into business
If you deal with a product and sell it through a regular store, in this case you will need several hundred thousand rubles or an average of $10,000 to start your business.
3. Remnants of unsold goods appear
One more weak side The store as its own business contains leftover goods.
They form especially often in grocery stores and in stores selling seasonal goods. For example, New Year's toys and other holiday supplies.
The cost of remaining goods has to be included in the current cost, which leads to a drop in demand, since the final price of the goods increases, and the buyer does not want to overpay.
4. A large number of periodic routine operations
Suppliers and working with them, tracking product balances, updating the assortment, rent, working with personnel (if any), taxes, inspections, inventory - this is not a complete list of what you will have to face in the process of working on your own store.
5. Seasonality of business depending on the chosen niche
Each trading niche has its own seasonality. It can be expressed more or less clearly. For example, in summer construction and finishing materials sell well, but in winter sales drop significantly.
Other stores make super profits in the winter under New Year, and in the summer they “suck their paws” in anticipation of a new profitable season. Pay attention to this factor when choosing a niche for your future store.
6. If the business fails, the risk of losing 80% of money
If suddenly your business does not take off, then the purchased commercial equipment will have to be sold for next to nothing, and the remaining goods will also be sold in bulk or simply given to friends for the holidays (if the goods are not food products).
Hopefully, you now have a more complete picture about opening your store and know what challenges you will face in the process.
You can reduce the risk of financial losses if you approach the opening of your store, or rather trading activities a little differently, for example, by starting trading under the “Business with China” division.
This is a very trendy and interesting topic for today. My friends are doing it successfully. By purchasing goods in China, you can sell them with a markup of up to 500% without even opening a physical retail outlet. This type of business can also be done via the Internet.
He teaches this business very well - he is an expert on the “Chinese topic”. Our team knows Zhenya personally and recommends him as a professional in this area.
Watch the video in which student Evgeniy shares his impressions of the training and financial results:
We continue the theme of opening our own store.
2. Opening a store from scratch - sweet myth or bitter truth
If by “zero” we mean a lack of knowledge and experience, then of course such a zero will not be an obstacle to the implementation of the project.
But if someone thinks that you can open your own store without having anything, then you must be disappointed - this is truly a myth!
Let's look at those mandatory elements without which it is simply impossible to open a store in principle.
I will list this minimum, and then you yourself can calculate in numbers how much, according to conservative estimates, it will cost to open and maintain a store.
For example, one of my friends, having opened a store women's clothing premium, invested in it more than 1,200,000 rubles . This amount included the rental of premises, renovations, purchase of goods, purchase of commercial equipment, hiring of personnel, and company registration.
How much does it cost to open your own store?
1. Premises (retail area)
Own or rented.
Naturally, having your own premises (not rented) gives you enormous advantages, but unfortunately, a minority of people have such a bonus at the start.
Get ready for the fact that rent will “eat up” most of the profit, and in seasonal downturns you can work “to zero”, without earning a penny, or even go into the red, shelling out money from your pocket.
2. Trade equipment
In rare cases, you will not need counters or other equipment: stands, refrigerators (if you are opening a grocery store). Depending on the specifics and size of your retail outlet, the cost of commercial equipment will vary.
3. Product
You can take some of the goods from suppliers for sale on deferred payment terms. That is, you will pay money for it after the sale. But the other half of the goods will most likely have to be purchased.
It is especially difficult for beginners in this market. So, if you are a newbie, then not every supplier will agree to give you the goods for sale due to a lack of trust.
4. Seller
At first, you yourself can act as a seller, and this will even be useful, because it is the owner who is primarily interested in the success of his business.
This way, you will study the most popular products, work with customer objections, and be able to pass on your findings to future hired employees.
5. Legal and accounting nuances
In any case, you will need to officially register your commercial activity, as well as periodically submit reports to the tax office and the Pension Fund.
In addition, you will deal with delivery notes, invoices and contracts. You have to deal with all these points sequentially.
How much does it cost to rent a retail space (real life example)
Let me give you an example of rental prices in the city of Stavropol, where I live. About 500,000 inhabitants live here.
In Moscow and St. Petersburg, respectively, the numbers will be much higher.
As of 2015, the average rental price for retail premises (space) is 1,000 rubles per sq. m. m.
The amount of rent is significantly influenced by the size of the premises - the smaller it is, the higher the price per square meter.
3. How to open your own store - 7 simple steps for beginners
Next simple steps will make this difficult but interesting path as easy as possible for you.
Try not to miss a single detail of this step-by-step instruction and I am sure that your chances of success of the enterprise will increase many times over.
These steps will help you open a store even in a small town and still make it profitable.
Step 1. Assess the available resources to start
First of all, look at what funds you have to open your store. All the resources you have can one way or another be divided into tangible and intangible.
Material resources:
- premises (retail area);
- cash;
- retail store equipment.
Intangible resources:
- a practical friend (a successful entrepreneur with his own store);
- own business experience;
- communications with the administration (tax office) of your locality.
For example, if you have your own premises, but it is not suitable for you to open a store, say, you are not satisfied with its location, then you can rent it out and use the proceeds to rent a suitable retail space.
This general principle. He will help you, among other things, with choosing a niche, that is, the direction of trade.
Step 2. Decide on a niche and product
Your success will largely depend on the chosen niche (area of trade).
How to choose a niche:
- Assess the level of competition where you want to open a store. If there are already large players in the area where you plan to trade, then these are additional risks. In this case, a niche strategy will make sense. Russian billionaire, founder of the Magnit retail chain Sergei Galitsky speaks about this: “If you decide to open a grocery store next to a giant, then do not try to overtake it in all positions, it will be very difficult to do. Choose a narrower niche, for example: meat products, sweets, bakery products and work it perfectly. This way you can get regular customers for your trade segment.”
- Calculate the starting budget for the project. Always expect to spend 30 or even 50 percent more than you originally planned. This is also confirmed by the experience of my entrepreneur friends. The rule of leaving a cash reserve for unforeseen expenses is one of the key ones not only for a store, but for any type of business in general.
- Determine if your niche has a strong seasonality. If you assume that the niche you have chosen has a pronounced seasonality, then be sure to take this into account when planning your business. What will you do in the slow months and how to squeeze out as much profit as possible during good trading.
- See if there are stores in your chosen area on the market. This is important so that when you open a store that has no analogues, you do not encounter complete absence clients. Many aspiring entrepreneurs are faced with the following misconception: if there is no product on the market that I will sell, then due to the lack of competitors I will quickly get rich.
But! The truth is that these same analogues often do not exist because this product not in demand at all.
Therefore, do not rush to become a millionaire overnight, but start your business in a clear niche with a product that is familiar to people. So, having earned your first money and gained the necessary experience, you will have more opportunities and funds to experiment with “exotic” niches.
Step 3. Draw up a business plan for the store
Don't treat this step as a formality.
This does not mean that you need to write out hundreds of pages of Talmuds, taking into account every penny and dozens of options for the development of events. However, make sure you have a written plan of action with rough estimates for three possible scenarios:
- pessimistic scenario;
- realistic scenario;
- optimistic scenario.
This approach is guaranteed to save you up to 30% of money at the start and give you a clear understanding of the existing picture.
I have already described in detail how to draw up a business plan in an article of the same name, consisting of three parts (,).
Step 4. We find a premises for trading or 99% of the success of the store - location, location and location again!
Even not the best product will sell very well where there is a large flow of target buyers.
This is precisely what the statement about the importance of location when opening a store is based on.
It’s not for nothing that the concept of “red line”* is often used in retail trade.
Red line– a retail outlet located near a road with large pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
3 main rules for choosing the ideal retail location:
Rule #1. Large flow of potential clients
This means that your store location should be a walk-through area. After all, the more potential clients see your offer, the greater the chance that they will buy from you.
Remember:
Clients only pay for what they see!
Your cool products, huge assortment, bonuses, discounts, and so on are worthless if the client simply doesn’t know about you.
Rule #2. Convenience for customers (availability)
This point is directly related to the previous one. If your store is easy to find, has convenient parking, and prominent advertising signs nearby, then you can be sure that business will go well.
Rule #3. Correct positioning
If you sell high-end goods, then choose your location with this in mind. For example, in the city center or in a famous business center.
On the contrary, if you sell consumer goods, there is no point in being located in the same building with expensive boutiques, where there will be a crazy amount of rent and a minimal presence of the target audience.
These simple rules will help you choose the ideal location for your future retail outlet.
Step 5. Select suppliers
Now every seller fights for his client and suppliers are no exception.
After all, a supplier is essentially the same store, only a wholesale one.
Several years ago I was lucky enough to work for the famous Coca-Cola company as a marketing specialist in the city of Stavropol.
In the process, I learned a lot about retail trade and now, based on this experience, I can tell you which supplier can be considered good and by what criteria it should be selected.
Supplier selection criteria:
- Reliability. This is the most important criterion. Reliability combines such parameters as the obligatory fulfillment of your order, honesty in mutual settlements, timely delivery of goods;
- Price. Naturally, everyone normal person wants to buy a product at the lowest price. Compare prices from different suppliers and choose the best one, all other things being equal;
- Range. This is usually an important criterion, because a wide range of products attracts more buyers;
- Recognition (brand). Trading is psychology. Selling goods famous manufacturers, you will gain a positive reputation much faster, and there are usually fewer problems with a proven (brand) product. After all, it can be easily replaced under warranty, returned if defective, or quickly repaired at the supplier’s service center (in the case of working with non-food products);
- Flexibility in calculations. Deferred payments, delivery of goods for sale, discounts and bonuses - this is an additional level of service that you will like and will allow you to work with additional benefits. Don't neglect this criterion.
Step 6. Register the activity (open an individual entrepreneur or LLC)
If you can still trade from home without registering your activities, then it is better not to do this in front of everyone, so as not to get yourself into trouble with clients and regulatory authorities.
To conduct trading activities in the form of a retail outlet (store), an individual entrepreneur (individual enterprise) or LLC (limited liability company) is best suited.
Now I will not go into details and compare these two forms of doing business.
All this is in my articles on the topic: “”, “”, “”.
Step 7. Launch the store and analyze the results
Here I deliberately do not talk about how to choose commercial equipment or design a store, since this is individual for each specific store. To select commercial equipment and decorate the premises, I recommend contacting specialized specialists.
Let's revisit the steps you need to follow before opening a store:
- Define a niche;
- Rent and prepare premises;
- Purchase commercial equipment;
- Purchase goods;
- Register your activity (open an individual entrepreneur or LLC);
- Hire staff if necessary;
- Conduct advertising campaign your store.
After this, you can colorfully decorate the façade of the store, purchase balloons, and even invite a professional presenter, staging a whole show. But this is optional. If your budget allows it, then fine.
As a last resort, the official opening of the store can be done on your own.
If you have experience in holding events, then you can act as a presenter yourself, while developing a program with competitions and small prizes.
In addition to the presenter, a DJ (sound engineer) with powerful speakers and other necessary equipment must be present at the opening.
After opening the store, after working for a month or two, see what works for you and what doesn’t. Most likely, in the process you will have “hot” and “stagnant” goods.
Remove illiquid items and focus on relevant products for your customers.
This approach can be applied to all other business processes.
Main principle
Strengthen what is already working well and get rid of what is not working as quickly as possible.
If you have ambitions and do not intend to stop at one store, then after working out the entire scheme at one outlet, you can later create your own retail chain.
4. Cash register – in what cases is it needed and which one is better to buy?
Under current law, in most cases you will have to use a cash register, but there are exceptions.
In order not to describe all the nuances here in long text, watch the video from the leading expert of Internet accounting “My Business” Margarita Grinya.
Margarita talks about in what cases the use of a cash register (cash register is mandatory, and in what cases you can do without a cash register):
How to choose a cash register for your store
When choosing a cash register, a necessary condition is the inclusion of this cash register model in the state register. You can find out this when purchasing it. Also, the cash register must be equipped with a secure electronic control tape (EKLZ).
ECLZ(protected electronic cash tape) is a fiscal memory block for storing information about ongoing operations.
Once a year it is necessary to change this unit (ECLZ). The cash register itself will remind you of this. Once this memory block is removed, it must be retained for five years.
5. Which store is profitable to open - 10 popular ideas for opening your own store from scratch
All types of stores described below by trade profile can be opened in both large and small cities.
The features of each of them are presented in an easy-to-read table. They will help you decide which store is best to open.
1) How to open a clothing store
One of the most popular trading options is for fashion and style lovers.
2) How to open a lingerie store
This is more of an option (for girls), but men can also do it if they place a female salesperson in such a retail outlet.
3) How to open a grocery store
You always want to eat, so such a store will be especially popular if it is located in good location, for example, at a transit stop or in a densely populated residential area.
4) How to open a children's clothing store
This type of trade is for people who love children and show interest in our “colors of life.”
5) How to open a consignment store
A good and clear view of the outlet for those who understand a wide range of used goods. Opening a second-hand shop - good way start a business from scratch.
| № | Item name | Description |
| 1 | Required Investments | from $7,000 (rent, staff salaries, cash register) |
| 2 | Features of a consignment store |
|
| 3 | Required equipment |
|
6) How to open an auto parts store
Do you love cars and have an eye for detail? Then this area of commerce and opening your own auto store is for you!
7) How to open a flower shop
Flower trading is for lovers of aesthetics, emotions, celebration and subtle sensual details. A flower shop will bring you not only profit, but also the joy of “communication with nature.”
| № | Item name | Description |
| 1 | Required Investments | from $5,000 (rent, staff salaries, cash register) |
| 2 | Features of a flower shop |
|
| 3 | Required equipment |
|
8) How to open a draft beer store
If you want to start a beer retail business, you can open your own beer store and do it practically from scratch. Where to start such a business and how much money you need to open it, see the table below. This type of business does especially well in areas with a corresponding consumer base.
| № | Item name | Description |
| 1 | Required Investments | from $9,000 (rent, staff salaries, cash register) |
| 2 | Features of a draft beer store |
|
| 3 | Required equipment |
|
9) How to open a hardware store
This type of sales is especially relevant during the warm season. A very profitable male type of business.
10) How to open a franchise store
For those who like to follow the beaten path along a clear and understandable pattern. Suitable for both beginners and experienced entrepreneurs.
| № | Item name | Description |
| 1 | Required Investments | from $50,000 |
| 2 | Features of a store opened under a franchise |
|
| 3 | Required equipment |
|
6. A true story about opening a store from scratch
A couple of years ago, one of my friends, his name is Alexey, decided to start a business. At this time, the guy was 24 years old and he wanted to open his own store selling premium Italian dresses and accessories for women.
Alexey persuaded his father to go to Italy and buy goods right there. Everything was bought and cost about 300,000 rubles, or $10,000 at that time.
He rented a room in the city center, but the place was rather nondescript.
About 200 meters from his store there were large shopping centers with the “tycoons” of this business - his direct competitors.
When the renovation was ready, a friend of mine ordered an advertisement and called his store with the fashionable word “boutique”. The prices there were appropriate.
Alexey reasoned like this:
“I sell goods for about 2 - 2.5 times more expensive than I bought them, my goods are expensive, which means that rent, wages and taxes will soon be repaid.”
As expected, he arranged a colorful opening of the store with sales of goods at low prices to lure customers. Alexey invited his friends to the opening and made a good profit that day, but on other days sales began to fall and soon disappeared altogether.
Then he decided that the problem was an unpresentable renovation and invested about $8,000 more in updating the appearance of the room. But, despite this, sales remained low and remained low.
I remember very well how, before starting his project, Alexey told me:
“Imagine, Sanya, when I open my store, they will say about me that I’m not just some guy Lyosha, but Lyosha is the owner of the boutique.”
From this phrase I concluded that he is not inclined to work and overcome difficulties, but only wants to increase his status by opening a business.
Unfortunately, my fears came true and 5 months later the store closed due to a shortage working capital and high operating expenses with scanty revenue.
That is, the store operated at a loss and “ate” all the young entrepreneur’s money.
As a result, Alexey lost about 1,200,000 rubles on this project. Fortunately, his father gave him this money for this business experiment and it was not the last.
Imagine what would happen if he took this amount on credit...
That is why, before you start, weigh all your risks again and ask yourself first, how much will I lose if I fail?
What thoughts are spinning in your head? Think about it!
7. Useful tips for beginning entrepreneurs when opening a store
These tips will help you open a profitable store and not close when the time comes. Hard times, and you will have them, believe my entrepreneurial experience.
Tip 1: Conduct a detailed market analysis before starting a project
You shouldn't rush headlong into the pool. Network with successful retail entrepreneurs you know. I'm sure you can find them if you want. Take the advice of these people and do not neglect them.
Research the specifics of the niche in which you are going to open your store. Visit your competitors' stores and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses.
Tip 2. Have a cash reserve and be prepared for unexpected expenses
As practice shows, most newly opened businesses in the process of operation and especially in the first time after the start experience the need for additional financing.
The store here is no exception. Be sure to keep in mind that you will need at least 30% more money than you planned. And under no circumstances should you open your business with your last money or with borrowed money, even if you have no experience!
Tip 3. Delegate non-core tasks
Often an entrepreneur, when starting a business, tries to do everything himself. After a while, he breaks down and quits his job halfway.
Do only the most important things.
For example, if the premises where you are going to open a store need to be repaired, entrust this to specialists by paying money.
Remember that routine operations that you do not delegate to other people eat up your time and bring the collapse of the project closer.
Focus on the main thing - working with suppliers, planning a business strategy, and so on.
8. Conclusion
If you decide to open a store, then contact practical advice and the steps described in this article.
The advantages and disadvantages of this type of business were discussed here, as well as the main points that novice entrepreneurs face when organizing their own retail outlet.
However, I would not open my own store as my first entrepreneurial project.
If you are drawn to selling something, whether wholesale or retail, then sometimes it would be nice to work in the area of trade in which you plan to open your business.
Having acquired the necessary experience for this and having seen the trading “kitchen” from the inside, it will be much easier for you to implement your plans.
That's all. I wish you high profits and satisfied customers!
Don't forget to like the article and share your opinions and experiences on the topic in the comments.