How to open your store - step by step instructions for beginners + real life example

Where to start if you want to open your own store? Which store is better to open and how to choose goods for trade? How much does it cost to open your own small store and how to do it from scratch?

Hello, dear readers of HiterBober.ru business magazine. Entrepreneur and author of the site Alexander Berezhnov is with you.

When start-up entrepreneurs have a question about what kind of business to do, many choose the simplest and most obvious - 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 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 kind of stores.

For example, if you decide to open a clothing store, an auto parts store, a children's store, or a grocery store, then you will have to go through the same steps. Here you will also find recommendations for opening the most common types of stores. This will be especially true for you if you have not yet decided which store to open.

Now I will tell you everything in order!

1. What you need to know to open a profitable store

Dear friend, most importantly, you must understand that the vast majority of people come up with the idea of ​​​​opening a store as a simple commercial project at first glance.

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 look for.

pros (+) your store as a business

1. Clarity for the average person

That is why most aspiring entrepreneurs consider their store as the first project. Since childhood, we have been 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 the store, it seems to us, we will have the least 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 1 store, its owner often does not stop and, with the right approach to business, outlets multiply like mushrooms after rain.

Indeed, all you need is not to reinvent the wheel and go along the beaten path, which should lead to success in your business, unless, of course, you “hit the jambs” at the very beginning.

3. Ease of calculations (forecasting income and expenses)

Trading is the most understandable business also in terms of settlements. You have the cost of the item, the sales margin, and the costs you incur.

4. Sustainability of business with its promotion

A well-established 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. Ability to sell your store as a ready-made business

Having built the entire store management system correctly, you can only occasionally coordinate the main processes, all things will go by inertia. So you become the owner of a completely autonomous system that makes a profit.

Naturally, many people who have capital but do not want to open their store from scratch will want to become the owner of such a “tidbit”.

Now selling a business is as easy as selling a car or an apartment, you just have to notify potential customers that you are selling your profitable store.

Minuses (-) your store as a business

1. High competition

The reverse side of the simplicity and clarity of opening a store is a high level of competition. After all, there are a lot of people who want to become the owner of their own outlet. Every second entrepreneur wants to open his own store in one area or another. This greatly complicates the start in this business and its further development.

2. Relatively high business entry threshold

If you are dealing with a product and selling 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. The appearance of remnants of unsold goods

Another weakness of the store as a business is the remnants of the goods.

Especially often they are formed in grocery stores and in stores selling seasonal goods. For example, Christmas toys and other holiday accessories.

The cost of the rest of the goods has to be included in the current cost, which leads to a drop in demand, as the final price of the goods rises, 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, renting, working with staff (if any), taxes, checks, inventories - this is a far from 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 more or less pronounced. For example, building and finishing materials sell well in summer, while sales fall significantly in winter.

Other stores make super profits in the winter before the new year, and in the summer they “suck their paw” in anticipation of a new profitable season. Pay attention to this factor when choosing a niche for a future store.

6. If the business fails, the risk of losing 80% of the money

If suddenly your business does not go well, then the purchased commercial equipment will have to be sold for a pittance, and the remaining goods will also be sold in bulk or simply presented to friends for the holidays (if the goods do not belong to food).

I hope that now you have a better picture of opening your store and know what difficulties 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, in a slightly different way, for example, by starting trading on the "Business with China" section.

This is a very trendy and interesting topic today. My friends are doing it successfully. Buying goods in China, you can sell them at a markup of up to 500% without even opening a physical outlet. This business can be done through the Internet.

He teaches this business very cool - he is a specialist in the “Chinese topic”. Our team knows Zhenya personally and recommends him as a professional in this field.

Watch the video in which student Evgenia shares her impressions of the training and monetary results:

We continue the theme of opening our store.

2. Opening a store from scratch - sweet myth or bitter truth

If by “zero” we mean the 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 store without having anything, then you must be disappointed - this is really 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 acquaintances, having opened a premium-class women's clothing store, invested in it more than 1,200,000 rubles . This amount included the rental of premises, repairs in it, the purchase of goods, the purchase of commercial equipment, hiring staff, registering a company.

How much does it cost to open your store?

1. Premises (shopping area)

Own or rented.

Naturally, having your own space (not rented) gives you tremendous 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 profits, and during seasonal recessions you can work “to zero” without earning a penny or even go into the red, putting money out of your pocket.

2. Trade equipment

In rare cases, you will not need counters or other equipment: stands, refrigerators (if you open a grocery store). Depending on the specifics and size of your outlet, the cost of commercial equipment will vary.

3. Product

You can take part of the goods from suppliers for sale on the terms of deferred payment. That is, give money for it after the sale. But the other half of the goods will most likely have to be purchased.

It is especially difficult here for novice players in this market. So, if you are a beginner, 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 it will even be useful, because it is the owner who is primarily interested in the success of his business.

So you will study the most popular products, work with the objections of customers and be able to transfer your experience to employees hired in the future.

5. Legal and accounting nuances

In any case, you will need to officially register your commercial activities, as well as periodically submit reports to the tax office and the Pension Fund.

In addition, you will deal with invoices, invoices and contracts. With all these points you have to deal with 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.

For 2015, the average rental price of retail premises (space) is 1,000 rubles per sq. m. m.

The amount of rent is significantly affected by the size of the premises - the smaller it is, the higher the price per square meter.

3. How to open your store - 7 easy steps for beginners

The following 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 in 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. Evaluate the available resources to start

First of all, look at what funds you have to open your store. All the resources you have one way or another can be divided into tangible and intangible.

Material resources:

• premises (shopping area);
• cash;
• retail store equipment.

Intangible resources:

• practical friend (successful entrepreneur with his own shop);
• own business experience;
• communications in the administration (tax) 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 rent a suitable retail space with the proceeds.

This is a general principle. He will help you, including with the choice of a niche, that is, the direction of trade.

Step 2. Decide on a niche and a product

Your success will largely depend on the chosen niche (trade area).

How to choose a niche:

1. 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 would make sense. This is what the Russian billionaire, founder of the Magnit retail chain Sergei Galitsky says: “If you decide to open a grocery store next to a giant, then do not try to overtake him in all positions, this will be very difficult to do. Choose a narrower niche, for example: meat products, sweets, bakery products and work it perfectly. This way you will be able to get regular customers for your trade segment.”
2. Calculate the starting budget for the project. Always count on the fact that spending will be 30 or even 50 percent more than you originally planned. This is also confirmed by the experience of my business friends. The rule to leave a cash reserve for unforeseen expenses is one of the key ones not only for a store, but in general for any type of business.
3. Determine if there is a pronounced seasonality in your niche. 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 “dead” months and how to “squeeze out” profits as much as possible during good trading.
4. See if there are shops in your chosen direction on the market. This is important so that when you open a store that has no analogues, you do not encounter a complete lack of customers. So many aspiring entrepreneurs are faced with the following misconception - if there is nothing 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 very analogues are often not there because this product not in demand at all.

Therefore, do not rush to become a millionaire overnight, but start your business in an understandable niche with a product familiar to people. So, having earned the first money and gained the necessary experience, you will have more opportunities and funds to experiment with “exotic” niches.

Step 3. We draw up a business plan for the store

Don't treat this step as a formality.

This does not mean that you need to paint the Talmuds for hundreds of pages, taking into account every penny and dozens of options for the development of events. However, make sure you have a written plan of action in front of you with rough calculations for three possible scenarios:

• pessimistic scenario;
• realistic scenario;
• optimistic scenario.

This approach is guaranteed to save you up to 30% of the funds 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 the article of the same name, which consists of three parts (,).

Step 4. We find a place for trading or 99% of the success of the store - a place, a place and again a place!

Not even the best product will sell very well where there is a large flow of target buyers.

It is on this that the statement about the importance of the place when opening a store is based.

It is not for nothing that the concept of “red line” * is often used in retail.

Red line- a retail outlet located near a road with a lot of pedestrian and car traffic.

3 main rules for choosing the perfect retail location:

Rule number 1. Large flow of potential customers

This means that the place of your store should be a walk-through. After all, the more potential customers see your offer, the greater the chance that they will buy from you.

Remember:

Customers only pay for what they see!

Your cool products, huge assortment, bonuses, discounts and so on are worthless if the client simply does not know about you.

Rule number 2. Customer convenience (accessibility)

This point is directly related to the previous one. If your store is easy to find, there is convenient parking near it, and prominent advertising signs nearby, then you can be sure that business will go uphill.

Rule number 3. Correct positioning

If you sell high-end goods, then choose a place with this in mind. For example, in the city center or in a well-known business center.

On the contrary, if you sell consumer goods, it makes no sense to be located in the same building with expensive boutiques, where there will be crazy rents and a minimal target audience.

These simple rules will help you find the perfect location for your future outlet.

Step 5. Choose suppliers

Now every seller is fighting for his client and suppliers are no exception.

After all, a supplier is essentially the same store, only a wholesaler.

A few years ago I was lucky enough to work in the well-known Coca-Cola company as a marketer in the city of Stavropol.

In the process of working, I learned a lot about retail and now, based on this experience, I can tell you which supplier can be considered a good one and what criteria should be used to select it.

Supplier selection criteria:

1. Reliability. This is the most important criterion. Reliability combines such parameters as the obligation to fulfill your order, honesty in mutual settlements, timely delivery of goods;
2. Price. Naturally, every normal person wants to buy goods at the lowest price. Compare the prices of different suppliers and choose the best one, all other things being equal;
3. Range. This is usually an important criterion, because a wide range of products attracts more buyers;
4. Recognition (brand). Trading is psychology. By selling goods from well-known manufacturers, you will gain a positive reputation much faster, and there are usually fewer problems with a proven (branded) product. After all, it is easy to replace it under warranty, return it in case of marriage, or quickly repair it at the supplier’s service center (in the case of working with non-food products);
5. Flexibility in calculations. Deferred payments, issuance 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. Do not neglect this criterion.

Step 6. We register the activity (we open an individual entrepreneur or LLC)

If you can still trade from home without registering your activity, then it’s better not to do this in front of everyone so as not to make problems with clients and regulatory authorities.

For conducting trading activities in the form of a retail outlet (shop), an individual entrepreneur (individual entrepreneurship) 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, as this is individual for each particular store. For the selection of commercial equipment and decoration of the premises, I recommend contacting specialized specialists.

Let's revisit the steps to follow before opening a store:

1. Define a niche;
2. Rent and prepare the premises;
3. Purchase commercial equipment;
4. Purchase goods;
5. Register an activity (open an individual entrepreneur or LLC);
6. Hire staff if necessary;
7. Run an advertising campaign for your store.

After that, you can colorfully decorate the facade of the store, buy balloons and even invite a professional presenter, having arranged a whole show. But this is optional. If your budget allows it, then fine.

In extreme cases, the official opening of the store can be done on your own.

If you have experience in organizing events, then you can act as a host yourself, while developing a program with contests and small prizes.

In addition to the host, a DJ (sound engineer) with powerful speakers and other necessary equipment must be present at the opening.

After opening the store, having worked for a month or two, see what works and what doesn’t work for you. Most likely, you will have "travelling" and "stale" goods in the process.

Remove illiquid assets 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 does not work as quickly as possible.

If you have ambitions and you do not intend to stop at one store, then having worked out the entire scheme at one outlet, you can later create your own retail network.

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 a long text, watch the video from the leading expert of the Internet accounting "My Business" Margarita Grin.

Margarita talks about in which cases the use of cash registers (a cash register is mandatory, and in which you can do without a cash register):

How to choose a cash register for your store

When choosing a cash register, a prerequisite is the inclusion of this KKM model in the state register. You can find this out when you buy it. Also, the cash register must be equipped with a secure electronic control tape (EKLZ).

ECLZ(electronic cash tape secure) is a block of fiscal memory for storing information about ongoing operations.

Once a year it is necessary to change this unit (EKLZ). The cash register itself will remind you of this. Once this memory unit is removed, it must be kept for five years.

5. Which store is profitable to open - 10 popular ideas for opening your own store from scratch

All the types of shops described below can be opened both in a large and in a small city.

The features of each of them are arranged in an easy-to-read table. They will help you decide which store is better to open.

1) How to open a clothing store

One of the most popular trade options is for fashion and style lovers.

2) How to open a lingerie store

This is more of an option (girls), but men may well do it if they put a female seller in such an 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 a good place, for example, at a checkpoint 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 "flowers of life".

5) How to open a thrift store

A good and clear view of the point of sale for those who understand a wide range of second-hand goods. Opening a commission shop is a good way to start a business from scratch.

6) How to open an auto parts store

Love cars and understand the details? Then this area of ​​trade and the opening of your own auto shop is for you!

7) How to open a flower shop

Flower trade - for lovers of aesthetics, emotions, celebration and subtle sensual details. The flower shop will bring you not only profit, but also the joy of "communicating with nature."

8) How to open a draft beer shop

If you want to start a beer retail business, you can open your own beer store and do it from scratch. How to start such a business and how much money you need to open it, see the table below. Such business is especially successful in areas with a corresponding contingent of consumers.

9) How to open a hardware store

Particularly relevant type of sales in the warm season. A very profitable male type of business.

10) How to open a franchise store

For those who like to go the beaten track in a clear and understandable pattern. Suitable for both beginners and experienced entrepreneurs.

6. Real story about opening a store from scratch

A couple of years ago, one of my acquaintances, his name is Alexei, decided to go into business. At that moment, the guy was 24 years old and he wanted to open his own store selling Italian dresses and accessories for premium women.

Alexey persuaded his father to go to Italy and buy goods right there. Everything was bought and cost about 300,000 rubles, or at that time $ 10,000.

He rented a room in the center of the city, but the place was rather nondescript.

About 200 meters from his store there were large shopping centers with the "big men" of this business - its direct competitors.

When the refurbishment was complete, my friend commissioned an advertisement and named his store with the buzzword "boutique." The prices were right there.

Alexei argued as follows:

“I sell goods for about 2-2.5 times more expensive than I bought, my goods are expensive, which means that rent, wages and taxes will soon be recaptured.”

As expected, he arranged a colorful store opening with a sale of goods at a low price 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 matter was in an unpresentable repair and invested another $ 8,000 in updating the appearance of the premises. But, contrary to this, sales were as low as they were.

I remember very well how, before starting his project, Alexey told me:

“Can you 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 a boutique.”

From this phrase, I concluded that he was not set up to work and overcome difficulties, but only wanted to improve his status by opening a business.

Unfortunately, my fears came true and after 5 months the store closed due to a lack of working capital and high operating costs with meager revenue.

That is, the store worked at a loss and "ate" all the money of a young entrepreneur.

As a result, Alexei lost about 1,200,000 rubles on this project. Fortunately, this money was given to him by his father for this business experiment, and they were not the last.

And imagine what would happen if he took this amount on credit ...

That is why, before you start, once again weigh all your risks and ask yourself first, how much will I lose if I fail?

What thoughts are running through your head? Think!

7. Useful tips for aspiring entrepreneurs when opening a store

These tips will help you open a profitable store and stay open when the going gets tough, which you will, trust my entrepreneurial experience.

Tip 1. Conduct a detailed market analysis before starting a project

Do not jump into the pool with your head. Connect with successful retail entrepreneurs you know. I am sure that if you wish, you will find them. 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. Go to the stores of your competitors and assess 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 work, and especially in the first time after the start, feel the need for additional funding.

The store is no exception. Be sure to keep in mind that you will need at least 30% more money than you planned. And in no case do not open your business on the last money or money borrowed, if you have no experience!

Tip 3. Delegate non-core tasks for yourself

Often an entrepreneur, when starting a business, tries to do everything himself. After a while, he gets overwhelmed and throws his business halfway through.

Focus on the most important things.

For example, if the premises where you are going to open a store need to be renovated, entrust it to specialists by paying money.

Remember that routine operations that you do not transfer 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 refer to the practical tips and steps described in this article.

Here, the advantages and disadvantages of this type of business were considered, as well as the main points that aspiring entrepreneurs face when organizing their own outlet.

However, as a first entrepreneurial project, I would not open my own store.

If you are drawn to sell 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 gained the experience necessary for this and having looked at 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!

Do not forget to like the article and share your opinions and experiences on the topic in the comments.