How do I get my business running?
This might sound odd, but I thought I'd ask for some advice because I really have no idea where to start. This is the story so far, which I'm hoping you can help with...
For as long as I can remember I've had this same dream. The dream to open up a shop that offers everything I love and hold dear to the world outside.
I want to open a bookshop, which is also a cute little cafe/bakery. And probably sells music and jewellery every once in a while. And has live music on occasion. And has days where kids come in and get read to. And is filled with vintage second hand shelves and furniture, with fairy lights and mismatched chairs and crockery, with old 50s classics crackling on a record player very quietly in a corner. Where there's a little cabinet behind the counter full of one of a kind first editions. Where the smell of fresh baking and book paper hits you as you walk through the door (the kind of door with a bell attached)
I want to be the owner of somewhere really personal, really special. A place that highlights the faceless production line styles of certain well known bookshops and certain well known coffee houses. A place where you know the name of all the staff, and can dream away hour upon hour, lost in the worlds of the great minds of our past, sitting on a comfy old sofa with a hot chocolate.
So this is my vision. As you might gather, I have a slightly overactive imagination. My problem is, I have no mind for business at all, I have no thousands of pounds of savings, I don't know the first thing about opening a shop, I don't know the legal implications, I basically don't know anything to do with business in any way shape or form. These are all things I am willing to find out. But I feel like there's so much I don't know that I don't know where to start, and I ws hoping someone could point me in the right direction...
You are the only one that can figure that out. You need to do some market research and write a business plan. Go to http://sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/plan/writeabusinessplan/index.html, http://www.score.org/template_gallery.html or http://articles.bplans.com/writing-a-business-plan for instructions on how to write a business plan and sample business plans.
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Hi,
A cafe,bakery and bookshop are 3 different business,people often get carried away and want their business to sell everything.This is not a good idea,you need to focus your attention on one of the three and in a few years time when the business is well established and you have experience in running a business and have the financial backing start a second.
You mentioned that you didn’t have thousands of pounds.All of the three business would need about 2-4 thousand pound and it would be Very difficult for you to get a business loan so i suggest you save enough money to cover rent for premises, money for stock,utility bills,labour etc and enough money to live on for the first 1-3 months in case the business doesn’t make enough money to cover its expenditures
Once you have the financial backing look for premises.Ask yourself the following questions when looking for premises
Does it have good transport links
Does it have passing trade
Are there any business in the area that offer the same service as you
Does the location fit the target market of the products you want to sell
To sell food you will have to go on a course(organized by your local council) to get a Hygiene certificate and you will be visited by a council health and safety officer to make sure the premises meet health and safety regulations.
i’d consider taking a course in business management or bookkeeping so you can handle the business side of things.
Good luck in your Business venture