Open For Business: But at What Cost?

In the age of the internet, starting a business can be as simple as hosting a free website and marketing services or goods through social media sites. Starting a retail business where customers can come browse merchandise and make purchases tends to be a larger endeavor. On average, starting a small business costs $3,000 at the outset. There are many expenses associated with beginning a retail business, some of which are less obvious than others.

The Cost of Business

Whether the retailer has a physical store or not, simply starting an official business carries costs. For example, incorporating a business involves:

• Taxes
• Licenses and fees
• Legal fees
• Insurance
• Loans and interest (if the business needs financial backing in order to launch)

The more complex a business is, the more these costs tend to be. A business with a storefront and multiple employees, for instance, will pay taxes as a business, an employer, and as a property owner/tenant.

Costs of Owning a Work Space

Businesses that function out of a work space, not just virtually, incur certain expenses as well. Some of the costs involved in hosting a business in one specific location include:

• Rent/Mortgage Payments
• Utility bills
• Insurance
• Licenses, permits, and fees (for certain types of work)
• Furniture/décor
• Supplies, equipment, and technology needed to operate your business

Of course, larger work spaces that hold more workers have more expenses, as do businesses that require specialized equipment.

The Cost of Retail

All the costs mentioned must be added onto the costs of retail if someone is starting a retail business. Some of the main costs of operating a new retail business include:

• Employees
• Employee benefits
• Inventory
• Display/storage for inventory
• Machines or technology for transactions
• Signage
• Décor to make the space appealing

Of course, each of these costs will vary from business to business. A case study of a consignment store in Austin, Texas, for instance, shows that inventory costs are very low since the products for sale are consignment pieces.

Other Costs to Consider

Running a retail business also has costs many people often overlook- like shrinkage. This occurs when, for reasons like employee theft or vendor fraud, inventory numbers are less than anticipated. Losses like these require that some margin is built into the budget.

For a retail business to get off the ground well, it is also essential for customers to actually come to the store and make purchases- consistently. Contrary to popular myth, customers do not just come and develop loyalty to a business because it is newly opened. Marketing and networking is necessary to build a customer base– and these practices usually have costs too.

Some of the costs of marketing and networking are unexpected. For example, a business will not just pay to create marketing materials- they will also need to trademark a logo, purchase a unique domain name, and more. Small costs like these can add up significantly. According to Small Business Trends, small businesses should expect to spend about 1 percent of their budget on advertising and marketing, plus a little extra during their launch period.

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