How to open your own grocery store: a ready-made business plan. Grocery store as a business How to open a grocery minimarket from scratch

Many people who dream of opening a business and working for themselves start with a grocery store. The main argument when choosing a type of activity is accessibility, high demand for food and, possibly, successful experience many other entrepreneurs. But you shouldn’t count on an “easy walk”, because without proper planning and preparation grocery store business plan it's hard to count on quick payback and the success of the business in general.

The first step is creating own plan, which has a strategic and financial component. In the first case, we are talking about the final goals and possible obstacles that may stand in the way, and in the second, we are talking about the costs of setting up and maintaining a business.

In general, before opening a grocery store, you should do the following:

1. Analyze the market and level of competition.
2. Consider location point of sale.
3. Think over your pricing policy.
4. Compose financial business plan and development strategy.

Primary expenses and where to get money

To figure it out how much does it cost to open a grocery store from scratch, It is worth performing a series of simple calculations. This type of business involves the following expenses:

• Buying or renting premises. The average cost of a pavilion in the capital will cost 400-500 thousand rubles. Rent will be cheaper (about 80-100 thousand). For provincial cities, costs will be much lower.
• Purchase of equipment (cash register, shelving, display cases, refrigerators, etc.) - 300-400 thousand rubles.
• Employee salaries start from 90 thousand rubles monthly, assuming that four people will work in the store.
• Additional expense items include fire alarms, security, hiring cleaners, purchasing licenses to sell alcohol.

Where can I get money to open a grocery store? There are several options:

• Attract an investor with sufficient professionalism in this area. Such a person not only invests money in the project, but also helps with useful ideas.
• Apply for a loan from a bank. This replenishment method is best used in last resort due to strict refund conditions and high interest rates. In addition, not everyone can get a loan. To do this, you will need a good credit history, a package of papers and a business plan with a detailed description.
• Get a government subsidy. Condition for registration financial assistance- being registered with an employment center for a year, as well as lack of employment. Unlike a loan, the money does not need to be repaid. But there is also a drawback regarding the small amount of assistance.

The best option is when you have your own savings at hand, because then you can not depend on anyone and gradually implement the plan into life.

Where to open a store?

Its popularity among customers and the rate of return on investment depend on the location of the outlet. If the choice is unsuccessful, the profit will be minimal, and the sale of the business may soon be necessary. In order not to make a mistake in this matter, it is recommended to take into account a number of points - the type of outlet (stall, store) and the current budget.

Small grocery store it is more profitable to open in residential area, where its own contingent of buyers is quickly formed. Thanks to this, the products are actively sold out and do not spoil. It’s easier for a person to go to small shop close to home than taking a minibus or walking to the supermarket.

When choosing a room, you should pay attention to the reliability of the structure, ease of access (possibility of its arrangement) and the presence of connected communications (water, heat, sewerage, etc.). If you miss this moment, subsequent costs during registration may increase several times.

What documents are needed?

The key core of modern business is the bureaucratic component, so before opening a grocery store you should collect a considerable package of documents. To begin with, you should register as an individual entrepreneur or legal entity, and then obtain many permits.

Below is a list of documents that may be required:

• Medical books (for each employee).
• Agreements for waste removal, deratization and disinfestation.
• A sanitary passport, which must be located inside the store and presented upon request. The document specifies a list of work to be performed.
• Papers confirming the entrepreneur’s right to use the premises (purchase and sale agreement or lease agreement).
• Certificate of workplaces, which must be drawn up taking into account current sanitary standards.
• Licenses and certificates that allow you to trade a certain type of product.
• Book of suggestions and reviews.
• Certificate confirming inclusion in the register of the locality.
• A list of emergency telephone numbers (must be in a visible place).
• Expert opinion on the compliance of the premises with fire safety standards.
• Information on servicing beneficiaries out of turn.
• Documents for cash register services - technical passport of cash register, cashier's log and others.
• Certificate confirming the fact of control testing of measuring devices.

This list is not complete and can be expanded if it is planned to hire a foreign citizen or if there are other subtleties of the future business.

Repair and purchase of equipment

Making decisions Is it profitable to open a grocery store from scratch?, it is important to take into account all cost items, including repairs and purchase of equipment, without which it will not be possible to organize a business.

Before starting repairs, it is important to remember:

1. The store should create comfortable conditions for buyers and sellers. When determining temperature regime and humidity levels, it is worth taking into account the storage requirements of various products.
2. The minimum number of rooms is two: for selling goods and for storing them. This does not include the utility room and toilet.
3. The area of ​​even a small grocery store should be 50 square meters or more. Otherwise, the equipment will not fit, and one can only dream of comfort for visitors.

The average cost of repair work is limited by financial capabilities. If you do only what is necessary, the costs will be 100-150 thousand rubles and more.

The greatest difficulty arises when choosing and purchasing equipment for opening a small grocery store. This is one of the main expense items. The list includes scales, shelving, refrigeration and regular display cases. You will also need a freezer and refrigeration cabinet, cash register and counters.

To save money, you can purchase used equipment. But there is a minus here. Such equipment is most likely not under warranty and may fail at any time. The best solution is to rent equipment directly from the supplier, but the availability of this option should be checked in advance.

How to choose an assortment?

To attract buyers and turn them into regular customers, it is important to offer a wide range. Even a small grocery store should have everything you need for everyday life. But you won’t be able to cover everything - you should focus on the target buyer and the location of the outlet. The main attention should be paid to essential products - baked goods, bread, milk, meat, drinks and so on. To save money, all these goods can be purchased from local suppliers.

The outlet should also have other products - sweets, household goods and sausages. When compiling a list, it is important to focus not only on potential profit, but also on expanding the number of customers. For example, chewing gum will not bring much profit, but it is in demand among children and adults.

Selection of suppliers

At the stage of opening a grocery store, it is important to resolve the issue with suppliers. One of the work schemes is to supply goods from distributor warehouses. With this approach, the cost of the goods will be inflated due to additional costs for storage and staff salaries. Alternatively, you can purchase goods from large hypermarket followed by price increases. At the same time, it is worth remembering the competition and comparing your pricing policy with the prices of your competitors.

The main thing in business activities- establish good relationships with suppliers, prove yourself with positive side, but be as careful as possible. When accepting a product, you should pay attention to its appearance and expiration date. It is difficult to explain to the buyer that missing kefir or dented ice cream is the supplier’s fault. When such a product appears, it is advisable to immediately remove it from the shelf so as not to lose customer trust. Special attention should be paid to the expiration date of the product. To avoid early spoilage of products, it is important to properly organize their storage.

Personnel selection rules and marketing

The success of a grocery store and its profit depends on one more factor - the qualifications of the staff. Here it is better not to save money, but to hire people who have experience and have been in the trade field for a long time. Experienced employees know how to properly arrange goods, know how to communicate with customers and promptly warn about the absence of certain products.

To attract employees, it is better to choose a piece-rate payment option, when a person receives fixed payment per day in the store and a percentage of sales. The employee's responsibilities should include customer service, assistance in working with suppliers, and product control. All of these factors are key. The professionalism of the seller determines how many customers will return to the store and become regular customers. That is why it is important to supervise the work of employees and prevent them from being rude to visitors. It is worth remembering that a person will be more willing to come to a cozy store with friendly salespeople.

To attract the attention of buyers, it is worth holding promotions and periodically making discounts on certain groups goods, beautifully decorate display windows. One of the cheapest methods of promotion is posting advertisements. Be sure to have a bright sign that should attract attention.

Total expenses (financial results)

— promising and interesting direction. But main question, which concerns many aspiring entrepreneurs, concerns the costs of starting a business. All expense items must be outlined in the business plan. Let's highlight the main points:

• Purchase of goods for the first time - 150 thousand rubles.
• Purchase of equipment - 120-140 thousand rubles.
• Renovation of the premises - 300-400 thousand rubles.

1. Regular expenses:

• Rental fee - from 20 thousand rubles.
• Salary (4 people) - 90 thousand rubles.
• Utility bills - 15 thousand rubles.
• Taxes - 15 thousand rubles.
• Purchase of products - 160 thousand rubles.

Total expenses are about 900-950 thousand rubles. To this amount you can add the costs of purchasing licenses, etc. The average profit of a small store is 400-450 thousand rubles per month. The level of profitability in the Russian Federation is 30%.

How to open a small grocery store: step by step

In conclusion, we highlight the sequence of actions in which you need to act when opening a retail outlet:

1. Decide on the location of the store.
2. Register an individual entrepreneur or LLC. When selling alcohol, the second option is required.
3. Select a tax regime.
4. Prepare technical project and permitting papers.
5. Buy commercial equipment and place it in the premises after repairs.
6. Decide on target audience and take this into account when determining the range and pricing policy.
7. Find several reliable suppliers.
8. Submit information about the opening of the store to Rospotrebnadzor.
9. Hire employees and enter into contracts with them.

One entrepreneur who made his fortune in food retail said people can save on everything except their stomach.

This makes sense, since even at the time of crisis in the economy and with a decrease in wages consumers, the income of owners of retail outlets or supermarkets does not fall significantly.

This is why many people wonder how to open a grocery store from scratch? There are certain recommendations for opening own business, which will eliminate the possibility of problems arising at the very beginning of the development of your own business.

When opening any business, an impressive package of documents is completed. Documentation consisting of numerous permits and licenses can be completed independently or law firm, which specializes in providing such services.

If you know what documents are needed, you can prepare them yourself. Therefore, let’s consider the document preparation plan.

To organize a business related to the retail trade of products, you will need the following documents:

1. Certificate of individual entrepreneur or group legal entities. You need to issue a certificate in local authority regulating the issue of accounting of legal entities. The certificate is issued within 5-30 days. When registering a certificate, you need to take a certificate indicating the absence of debt.
2. In order to receive necessary license You must also submit documents establishing the rights to use the real estate.
3. SES and GPN must give approving conclusions, which indicate the suitability of the premises established standards. A sanitary passport is also being created.
4. Established standards determine the need to draw up an agreement for waste removal from the store.
5. A document containing a list of the assortment of a retail outlet. If the assortment includes alcohol, you must have a license to sell it.

The package of documents is submitted to the Consumer Market Department. In order for the verification to take place within one calendar month, the information provided must be reliable and executed in accordance with established rules. Otherwise, the process of reviewing the submitted package of documents will take a lot of time.

However, permission alone will not be enough to start trading. After this we create:

• certification of the place of work of each employee;
• registration of cash register and control equipment;
• a document confirming the availability of contact with emergency services;
• a copy of the license permitting retail trade;
• copies of product licenses presented during inspection.

A book of complaints and suggestions is being created to regulate the relationship between the seller and the consumer in accordance with the rules.

Selecting a room

The selection of premises and its rental or purchase when organizing the business in question should be carried out before the start of registration of business activities and other documents. This is due to the fact that they will contain information about the premises: address, area and much more.

The step-by-step plan for choosing a room involves considering its location. This is due to the fact that the store must be located in high traffic areas.

Many people don't look at it small store or big, returning home from work. The main thing is not to deviate from the intended path. The plan for creating your own business should take into account how many people (approximate count) pass by the location of the future store.

The calculation takes into account transport interchanges, the number of residential buildings nearby and industrial buildings and offices.

When setting up a retail business, the estimated profitability of a retail outlet is determined by whether there are other stores nearby. When considering competitors, their range, prices, service, room features and much more are taken into account.

All indicators can be determined by drawing up a plan that indicates the possible audience of the outlet.

Rental of premises

An easy start to a business with a small amount of money is possible by concluding a lease agreement. When choosing, it is recommended to consider buildings that were originally designed for organizing food retail trade.

Otherwise, the money will be used to remodel the area so that it meets the established standards.

Particular attention should be paid to the drafted lease agreement. It is recommended to conclude it for a long period, since otherwise the funds invested in preparing the plan and its implementation will not bring profit.

However, we should not forget that in the event of unprofitable trade, the tenant terminates the long-term contract, and this can, in some cases, be done only by paying a penalty. Therefore, you should entrust the drafting or review of the lease agreement to lawyers.

Before renting a premises, you need to take into account that it must comply with all the standards of the SES and other authorities. These include:

• Availability of a ventilation system: artificial or natural. This is due to the fact that there may be many people in the store. According to established standards, artificial or natural ventilation must be organized in crowded places.
• The safety instructions determine the need for fire protection systems and evacuation plans.
• Attention is paid to electrical wiring.

All standards can be obtained from the relevant control authorities. Recently, shopping complexes have become popular, where all standards are met, but renting them is not always advisable.

Another selection criterion is the mandatory provision of a structure with water supply, electricity, heat supply, and a ventilation system.

Important! All communications must be arranged accordingly, otherwise there is a possibility of problems with opening the store.

What is the price correct design supply of communications? An exact answer can only be given by considering a specific case, but registration on your own will always lead to a bad start to your own business.

When concluding an agreement, you need to pay attention to the correctness of the documents for the real estate and other points: the form of ownership, how many owners, whether the real estate is collateral for the loan.

Search for suppliers and conclusion of contracts

To obtain a constant profit, it is necessary to provide for the need for a constant supply of goods. The plan for starting your own business includes a conclusion long-term contracts. Often wholesale companies become suppliers.

The instructions for selecting suppliers are as follows:

1. To begin with, we study the demand around the opening of a store. Using research results, the popularity of goods in the region is determined.
2. The next point is the selection of suppliers of products from a certain range.
3. The main selection criterion is how much the product costs. But in some cases it is more profitable to buy from a supplier located nearby, rather than from one that sells cheaper. If you deliver from afar, you need to pay attention to unique product, which is not widespread in the region.

An original idea would be to purchase goods from local farmers. Natural product, fresh fruits and berries are always in demand. People are even willing to overpay if they are confident in the naturalness and quality of the products.

Purchase of commercial equipment

When trading products, you should take into account that they need to be stored in the refrigerator. Some products cannot be sold without refrigerators installed.

In addition to refrigeration units, you may need:

• showcases;
• racks;
• freezers and refrigerators.

You can make your store more practical and attractive if you use the services of companies that furnish retail premises.

A similar service consists of creating a design project, which will indicate the plan, the type of furniture and equipment to be installed, sketches and much more. Already taking this information into account, the furnishings of the room will be carried out.

You can arrange the pavilion by renting equipment and furniture. Some suppliers specialize in supplying equipment and furniture for rent.

Selection of cash register equipment

Cash register equipment is an integral part of every store. If you are creating a grocery store, then you need to take into account the need for scales and a scanner.

Scales are necessary for goods that need to be weighed. A scanner is needed if the pavilion is open and visitors pay at the exit.

Correctly chosen cash register equipment will allow:

• increase sales control;
• reduce costs arising from cashier errors;
• relieve cashiers, which will speed up checkout for visitors.

A receipt is issued to all customers according to the purchased product. This is due to the established rules in the consumer rights law.

In your business registration plan, you should take into account that you need to obtain the appropriate documents for installing a cash register.

To do this, registration is carried out with the Federal Tax Service, the cash register is registered with service center, who is responsible for monitoring the health of the equipment.

The registration process is as follows:

1. A corresponding application is submitted to the tax service.
2. Next, you need to conclude an agreement with the center that provides cash register support.
3. For KKM accounting its diagnosis is carried out.
4. An ECLZ is installed in each cash register.

Unregistered cash registers cannot be installed in a store. This rule is established by law; its violation leads to administrative liability.

Recruitment

After the base is fully prepared, the time comes when you need to hire staff. The business in question is built on the fact that each employee will perform his or her duties. Can recruit staff recruitment agency, but you can do it yourself.

• To attract attention, you can place an ad on the Internet;
• the announcement may be distributed through the media;
• Flyers in or around the store can also attract potential employees.

The interview will determine who is most suitable for the job. When attending an interview, potential employees must have:

• a certificate that allows you to work in the country;
• The health record is an important document. Moreover, its presence is a mandatory condition for every grocery store employee.

In addition to cashiers-sellers, you should hire personnel who will be responsible for keeping the store clean, for delivering goods to the shelves, for guarding the premises, and so on.

Design of a retail outlet

The way a product lies on the counter determines its attractiveness. To begin with, you can use the services of a merchandiser. At the same time, it is not entirely necessary to hire such a specialist; you can enter into an agreement for the provision of services.

The store itself can be designed in different ways. The main thing is that it should be bright and attract the attention of others.

Conclusions

The process of creating your own business, which consists of selling goods, is simple. The main thing is to follow the established plan.

How much does it cost to open your own store? The question is quite complicated, since the final price depends on the location of the pavilion, its area, assortment and other features.

Estimated income also varies widely. That's why special attention You need to pay attention to developing a business plan and its accuracy.

Many people who decide to take up own business, are thinking about opening a grocery store, guided by the thought: “all people want to eat every day.” This argument is, of course, weighty, but it covers the very essence of the business idea very superficially.

The success of a grocery store will depend not only on the influx of visitors, but also on a number of other factors. In the process of work, you need to take into account absolutely all the nuances of this matter. This includes merchandising, appearance of the outlet, advertising campaign and even store equipment.

Pros

• Market. The food market today is not just large, it is constantly expanding. In stores you can find products not only domestic producers, but also foreign. At the same time, imports are increasing every year. It is best to open a small convenience store. Such establishments are ahead in terms of their return on investment compared to supermarkets, because people often pay attention to exactly what is at hand.
• Assortment. When opening a store, it is recommended to fill its assortment with what is sold at a competing outlet. Despite the fact that the products will be similar, this will bring you profit, especially if the establishment is within walking distance. Not every person, including pensioners, will want to go to the supermarket on the next street when a store with the necessary goods is located near the house.
• Wholesale supplies. If the wholesale supply system is well developed, then you will not have to go and purchase goods yourself. Representative offices of wholesale companies will advise you on which product will be most in demand in your store. They will help you fill out a supply request and deliver the products to your store.
• Product stock. In most cases, stores make purchases food products several times a week (1-2 times). Thanks to this, you can avoid the fact that old goods will be lying on the shelves (its volume is calculated in advance for 1-2 weeks of sales). Dairy and bakery products are calculated on average for 1-2 days of sales.
• Low staff level. To work in a store, you do not need to hire salespeople with special knowledge or qualifications. At the first stage of doing business, you can refuse to hire qualified employees and hire cheaper personnel, thereby reducing wage costs.
• The store's pricing policy is proportional to inflation in the country. As a rule, food suppliers raise prices for goods several times a year. This is due to rising prices for raw materials from which products are made, as well as currency fluctuations. Thus, prices in the store rise simultaneously with prices in the entire market.

When forming a pricing policy, you do not need to take into account the annual inflation rate. All you need to do is keep the product margin at a fixed level. In many industries, increasing the price of a product can be quite risky, because you can lose a significant part of your customers. Therefore, entrepreneurs keep the price as low as possible for as long as possible, thereby working at a loss. At a grocery store, this problem practically does not exist.

Cons

• Scope of work. A large volume of store work will primarily be associated with the purchase and acceptance of goods. In practice, the average level of markup on food products ranges from 10 to 20 percent. Thus, stores make a profit by the volume of goods sold. If the point has a high turnover, then several purchases will have to be made daily. To make your work easier, you need to deliver the goods to your arrival in specialized programs, for example, “1C Store”.
• Shortage of goods. In most stores, stockouts are the main reason why profits fall. This may be due to theft of buyers, sellers, errors when receiving goods or in the work of cashiers. To avoid shortages of products, it is necessary to appoint staff and customers responsible for theft. It is also worth noting that the shortage leads to a decrease in the efficiency of staff, because it is followed by deductions from the employees’ salaries.
• Product expiration date control. Since the shelf life of most food products is limited, it is necessary to organize a certain control system in the store. In accordance with it, goods are divided into those that can be sold and those that have expired. Some damaged goods can be returned to the supplier. In any case, the store will always have products that must be written off from sales or deducted from the salaries of the persons responsible for them. Product write-offs and payroll deductions can take a toll on your bottom line.
• Supervisory authorities. Food products that will be sold in your store, alcohol and tobacco products have certain deadlines implementation. It is physically impossible to keep track of each item, so certain violations related to sales may occur in the store. If violations are found, you will have to pay fines, which are quite high today.

How to open yours own store- in the following video:

Registration of individual entrepreneur or LLC, necessary documents

First you need to register your business. The first thing you need to do is choose the form of your organization (this could be). The choice of form depends on what kind of store you plan to open. If this is a point within walking distance, an individual entrepreneur is quite suitable ( individual entrepreneur). If the store is expanded to trading network, it is better to choose LLC.

In order for your business to be legal and compliant with the law, you must collect and prepare the following documents:

• Certificate of registration of individual entrepreneur or LLC.
• Premises rental or purchase agreement.
• Certificate from the sanitary-epidemiological station.
• A conclusion from the fire department confirming that the premises meets all fire safety standards and does not pose a threat to the lives of staff and visitors.
• Agreement for the conclusion of sanitary measures in the premises.
• Contract for the removal of food waste.
• Garbage removal agreement.
• Staff medical records.
• Buyer's corner with everyone necessary documents: license for entrepreneurial activity, reference and legislative information, a book of reviews and suggestions, documents on the sale of products in the store, certificates from the sanitary and epidemiological station on the compliance of products with sanitary standards.
• Certificates for the sale of tobacco products.
• Quality certificates.
• Certificates and documents for the cash register.
• Certificates for entry into the trade register.
• Instrumentation documents.

Selection of location and premises

The main task before opening a store is choosing its location. Revenue will depend on this. According to statistics, about 50 percent of the profit depends on the location of the point. If the location is chosen incorrectly, the business can be considered bankrupt.

To choose the right location, you need to analyze the so-called preferred zones in your city and open a store there.

You also need to select commercial premises. His choice will depend on what kind of store you are going to open. If the establishment is within walking distance, then the premises should be small (30-50 sq. m.); when opening a supermarket or mini-market, the area should be from 150 to 300 sq. m. m.

Selecting a trade direction and format

The most profitable form of store is considered to be a supermarket. Such stores can be opened both in a small area and in a large one. They are convenient for the buyer because they can always look at the product and check the information of interest (for example, composition or expiration date), and only then pay for it at the checkout.

If you plan to sell only certain products, then choosing the “counter-seller” format would be an ideal option.

In such cases, buyers, especially pensioners, will have the opportunity to consult with the seller when choosing the right item. If your store has friendly salespeople, the flow of customers will be high.

The choice of the direction of trade and the format of the grocery store will depend on what kind of establishment you plan to open, as well as on its location - in a village, town or city.

Required equipment

To store products, you need to purchase necessary equipment. First of all, you should purchase refrigeration equipment, shelving, cash register equipment, freezers.

In addition, you need to purchase equipment: storage lockers, carts and baskets for products. If the store sells home-cooked products (for example, salads, fish, meat), then you should definitely buy knives, cutting boards and other similar equipment.

Recruitment

If you do not have the necessary experience in recruiting, it is recommended to hire directors, who is well versed in this issue. In addition, he must know the product range, properly organize the working environment and optimize it as much as possible.

The store should hire several sales consultants V trading floor, replaceable sales clerks(if you are opening a supermarket). Also take care of store security, which you can hire yourself or by contacting special security agencies. If desired, you can hire several movers who will unload the goods.

How much does it cost?

Here you should carefully determine all the income and expenses that will accompany your business. As soon as this estimate is drawn up, you can think about opening your own point.

Main expenses:

• Rent of premises – 100 thousand rubles per month.
• Salary to employees is about 150 thousand rubles per month.
• The cost of purchasing equipment is 300 thousand rubles.
• Costs for products – 500 thousand rubles.
• Additional expenses – 100 thousand rubles.

According to rough estimates, opening may require at least 1,150,000 rubles.

How to advertise a point

To open store brought stable income, you will need a constant flow of customers. To do this, you need to carry out various promotions, which will make your outlet stand out from the rest.

First of all, you need to try to make the opening as noisy as possible. The entrance to the store can be decorated with balloons and organized interesting events. One of best options will be a competition in which visitors can win household appliances(electric kettle, microwave oven, etc.).

You should definitely consider a discount system. The best option is to issue discount cards for a discount of a certain size.

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 beginning 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 is not for nothing that, having opened one store, its owner often does not stop and, with the right approach to business, retail outlets multiply 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, trade margin and the costs you incur in doing so.

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 the competitors located nearby.

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. This way you will become the owner of a completely autonomous system that generates 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.

Cons (-) your store as a business

1. High competition

The downside to the simplicity and clarity of opening a store is the high level of 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. Large quantity 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 of opening your store and know the challenges you'll face along the way.

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 commercial equipment, hiring staff, 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 during 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 learn the most hot goods, you’ll work with customer objections and be able to pass on your work to future hired employees.

5. Legal and accounting nuances

In any case, you will need to officially register your commercial activities, and also periodically submit reports to 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.