Any advice, suggestions or information would be greatly appreciated
so....you THINK you want to start a store
.....boy you asked a mouthful...
Hoo Boy ...I'll tell you what...
I'm not complaining, I'm just saying...
if I had a family to take care of ...I'd never get into this business...
but I don't care...I've been doing this for 11 years and I'm (or should be) commited.
If you've got a wife and babys, keep getting jobs 'til you've got a good boss...I think that even 'tho that's near impossible...
it's better than stocking a retail store.
Here's what you need if you want to try:
1] $50,000.
UNcommited...(IE: no interest due, don't need it, no bills, no college due in 10 years, no medical, tons 'o' extra cash in the shoe box, gift from a patriarch or matriarch, money like you hit the lottery PLUS you don't drink at bars or do drugs).
2] Parking
...you need 3 spaces for your company & employee cars PLUS SEVEN spaces for your customers cars. So, 10 spaces...check that... 12 spaces.
3] location, location, location....
if at all possible...you want to be on a numbered route (as opposed to Main Street, Jonquil Ave, 3 Mary Terrace, etc.) Out of towners are much more likely to find you if you're on
Route 2 South 3 miles west of the Interstate,
than if you're "take a right off Main St, take the next left on Jonquil, take the 5th right on Mary" ...doesn't work (non-cartographers have money. too)
4] SIGNS....
you can spend THOUSANDS on advertising in newspapers (which you need to do some, too)
...but, if passers-by can't see you...it's a total WASTE!
Plan to spend at least $1000 on signs for the store.
I spent $275 on a little neon sign in the front window that said "aquarium"
business DOUBLED!!!!!!