Starting a Retail Business

What Costs are Involved when Starting a Retail Business

By Read Dive 3 years ago
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Starting a new business venture in retail, here’s everything you need to consider to get you started on the right track and prepare you for all the costs that are involved.

A retail business means buying products or services from a manufacturer or wholesaler to sell to a consumer. The industry alone is complicated and big, retail covers everything from food and clothing to home décor and more.

The size of the retail industry with each of the separate segments presents a number of opportunities for any aspiring entrepreneurs that want to grow a retail business, but with the extent of the industry comes a highly competitive sector, which has its risks for any new business.

With some smart planning and research into the area of your business, you can start a retail business that stands out from the rest. But every business idea and venture comes with additional costs. You have to spend money to make money as the saying goes.

Startup Costs for Retail Businesses

Creating a budget for any business is important but overwhelming at the same time. It’s great that you have a business idea to generate and attract customers, but without a sufficient amount of funds available your business will not last. When you have an understanding of the initial costs involved it will give you an insight into how you plan to tackle them.

Location

If your products are being sold face to face, location is important, you require foot traffic and regular customers, being in a place that hits your target audience is important as well. When you’re looking at retail spaces the cost of a deposit as well as remodeling the space to fit your business niche is a big cost, producing and hosting your own website for your store is another additional cost.

Rent

So, you’ve found the location, now it’s the monthly cost for rent to consider. Rent is dependent on the square footage of the space, as well as the true value of the property and its location. With higher foot traffic, and in popular retail centers they tend to have higher rental fees.

A good way to help determine if the place you are interested in is asking the right rental price is by seeking out a business valuation for rent review/determination. This inspection will entail a report of the true value of the business space and the true market rent value that will give you a means of negotiation to lower the price of rent based on the legally binding valuation document you receive.

Utilities

The expenses of electricity and gas are largely influenced by the location and size of the retail space and for the most part the climate can influence the costs as well.  Explore various options for providers to compare different quotes to find the best possible rate to meet your budget.

Insurance

No matter your business, having insurance is important, common coverage for your business can include:

  • Business property
  • Business income
  • Business Liability and Crime
  • Public or product liability insurance
  • Work safe insurance

It’s always best to be prepared when it comes to protecting your business and yourself in the event something were to happen.

Inventory

Retail inventory costs involve the initial cost as well as the holding cost (storing) for the inventory. Having the costs determined will give you an insight into the monthly costs that will have to be considered every time in your budget.

Equipment

Think about what equipment is needed and how you will be displaying your products. Depending on your products you may require hangers, shelves, and display cases. Price tag labelling, packaging all these things will add up at the end of the day and need to be considered into your budget for initial costs.

Staff payments

Having a trust-worthy reliable team is vital in an effective smooth-running successful business. Hiring staff to help with your day-to-day operations will cost you such as salary, wages, and employee benefits, you may also need to account for training, and having someone do the payroll, and managing and booking the work hours.

Technology

Investing in proper technology, equipment, and software from the get-go will prove effective in the everyday running of your business. As a retail owner, you will need a point-of-sale system that is integrated with everything from location, management, and payments. Investing in security procedures and systems will protect you and your products from theft, shoplifting or any other retail-related crimes.

Marketing

Marketing is an essential tool for a business owner that often gets overlooked.  Yes, there are costs involved in various marketing tools, but be prepared to spend money if you want to start your business right from the get-go, the way in which you promote your business matters so you can generate new customers and thus adding value to your business.

Taking these initial costs into account will give you the confidence to start finalizing your business and get started on your new venture. Always be prepared, do your research, and have a clear understanding of your business plan, the goals, and how you wish to achieve them. This will give you a leg up in the industry adding to the growth and success of your business as well as the potential of adding value to the business overall.

Author Bio

Gerard Wilsher is an Associate Member of the Australian Property Institute and a Certified Practicing Valuer specializing across all property including residential, commercial, and industrial sites. Gerard is an expert in Sydney’s property market and his professional career in property valuation has led to a number of lecturing opportunities for educational conferences around Australia. With over 25 years’ experience, Gerard enjoys sharing his knowledge and expertise with his clients and the public.

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