Who starts a blog post with a disclaimer?
ME!
DISCLAIMER: As terrifying as the “100+” in this blog title may sound, don’t let it scare you.
I often hear people ask what will they need to think about before they start the process of planning for a store or they ask if they have “everything” they need before opening. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that an actual checklist can be extremely helpful for aspiring brick and mortar store owners.
On this free checklist, you’ll find both tangible items, like cleaning supplies and a Point of Sale system, and intangible items, like registering for an EIN (Employee Identification Number) with the IRS or finding a bookkeeper.
I’ve been working on this list for months. I created it by listening to shop owners conversations, asking Master Shopkeepers members for their input and from my own personal experience in opening a store with my sister.
What’s Included
This is a comprehensive list and I should mention that every item may not apply to you or your needs, but I wanted to include as much as possible.
It’s a 3-page checklist, so it may seem overwhelming at first. But trust me, we all eventually get what we need for our stores. It takes time and nothing happens overnight.
I am not in any way suggesting you’ll have all of this purchased and accomplished before you open. It’s simply a guide to help you prepare and plan.
Opening a brick and mortar store is no small feat. But, this checklist is something I personally wish someone would have given me before my sister and I opened The Salvaged Boutique in 2015.
Current brick and mortar stores tend to agree that they underestimated how much they’ll need and how much they’ll spend in order to get ready for their grand opening.
My hope is to prepare you – not scare. Knowledge is POWER.
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