29.03.2024

How to open a bookstore?

First of all, it is necessary to assess the market specifically in the region where the opening is planned. This is required to identify the needs of people in another bookstore. Due to this step, risks can be reduced. You can evaluate the market both independently and with the help of specialists, ordering a full-fledged marketing research. The only thing – this service is quite expensive.

Many believe that with the advent of modern technology, the era of books irretrievably sunk into oblivion, and the fact that building a business in this direction is unprofitable. Nevertheless, bookstores are actively developing, creating entire networks, so you can not say that business has no prospects. With the right approach to the matter, with an understanding of where to begin the discovery, and a conscientious attitude to the economy, a bookstore can bring tangible income.

The first question that a beginning entrepreneur asks himself is how to start the opening of a bookstore. So, let’s see what steps must be taken first.

To make an independent assessment, it is necessary to identify competitors and assess their competitiveness. Try to create the most complete picture of what is happening in the region in this direction.

Analyze the strategy of both strong competitors and weak players. It is better to learn from the mistakes of others.

The main target audience of the bookshop is people from 16 to 55 years old. According to statistics, books for children, textbooks and reference books are more popular. They are purchased most often and stably.

Next, you should decide whether you will sell something other than books or not, and what books should be included in the range.

A good assortment in the bookshop includes the following sets:

  • Children’s literature;
  • Modern Russian literature;
  • Modern foreign literature;
  • Classic;
  • Children’s literature;
  • Training aids;
  • Scientific publications;
  • Reference books, encyclopedias, phrase books, maps.

Often in bookstores, departments with office supplies are equipped. This concept brings additional revenue to the company, especially during the preparation for the training season.
A good guide for choosing an audience can be considered the region. If this is a scientific city, then it will be appropriate to emphasize the relevant literature.

How to open a bookstore?

Investment size

The opening of the average book store will take about 1.5 million rubles. The payback period without the acquisition of a franchise is from one year to two years.

Initial costs include:

  • Registration of a bookstore and obtaining permits for trade – 10-12 thousand rubles;
  • Acquisition of goods (about 15 thousand books) – from 800 thousand to 1 million rubles;
  • Carrying out of repair works + a signboard – from 100 to 300 thousand rubles;
  • Purchase of equipment: cash registers, computers, etc. – from 100 to 200 thousand rubles;
  • Furniture, interior items, design project – 200 – 400 thousand rubles;
  • Marketing, concept development – 100 and more thousand rubles;

To constant monthly expenses it is necessary to carry:

  • Salary of employees – 100 thousand rubles;
  • Rental of premises – from 70 thousand rubles;
  • Updating the assortment – from 40 thousand rubles;
  • Content costs: light, internet, etc. – from 10 to 30 thousand rubles.

After opening the store there is a risk of encountering such an unpleasant problem as stealing. To save the situation can the installation of cameras and anti-theft systems. Such protection can cost almost 200 thousand rubles.

Initial investments for this business are large enough, so there may be a situation of the need for additional cash flow. To date, there are several ways to receive cash:

  • Crediting;
  • Loan from relatives or close people;
  • Obtaining a subsidy in the support fund of entrepreneurs.

The book business requires a fairly serious initial investment, but in the future after the installation period, when it will function well, you can hope for a permanent income. It is worth noting that you can initially try to reduce the consumable part.

Often, bookshops negotiate with publishers on the prepayment, the rest of the store gives after selling the book. This saves the initial investment, but requires the creation of additional documentation.

In many ways, business optimization depends on a competent approach to the economic situation. To properly reduce costs, it is necessary to identify possible risks, and try to avoid them.

Step-by-step instruction

When the analytical part of business preparation is over, all calculations are summed up, all evaluation activities are carried out, it is necessary to start acting.

So, everything is worth taking six steps:

  1. Rent;
  2. Furnishing the store with equipment and furniture;
  3. Supplier search;
  4. Business promotion. Advertising;
  5. Staff recruitment;
  6. Work organization.

The first step is to find a room for rent, but this issue should be considered separately, since it includes a large number of nuances, so let’s take a closer look at the following steps.

Store construction

The equipment includes computers, a cash register, as far as possible cameras and anti-theft frames.
As for furniture, it is worth paying attention to the parameters of the shelves and cabinets with shelves, because they will be the main product. The rack should not be too high, otherwise the buyer will be comfortable to take the book. It is better, if the furniture will be located along the walls, then there will be more space for free passage.

The best option for a bookstore is a supermarket where everyone can choose a book independently.

It is necessary to think over individual tables for best sellers. They should be in a prominent place, so that the buyer wants to read the book.
Often bookshops sell expensive gift copies of books. To not be stolen, you need to purchase special glass cabinets with a key for the sales consultant.
The premise should be divided into sections on the appropriate assortment, so it will be easier to navigate in search of specific literature.

Search for suppliers of goods

To date, the main suppliers of book products are:

  • Publishers;
  • Wholesalers;
  • Intermediaries.

It is better to give preference to large publishers, so the products will enter the store without delays and delays.
If you want a wide range of products, then you need to negotiate with several publishers at once.

Business promotion. Advertising

Competent advertising of the bookstore will help the growth of customers. In addition to standard methods, such as distributing leaflets on the street, discounts, shares and signage, it is also necessary to take into account the peculiarity of book education. Many bookstores for advertising purposes invite famous authors to organize a presentation of their books. Usually authors willingly agree to present the book for free, because it is simultaneously their advertising.

If there are a few famous authors in your region, then once a month you can conduct a lecture on a certain topic, after having prepared a set of books suitable for the topic. Psychologists have noticed that people enlightened in some matter more willingly will want to study it further by reading literature.

Do not forget about the importance of internet promotion. Create a group in popular social networks and distribute advertising there absolutely free.

Staff recruitment

The following employees must work in the bookshop:

  • 4 seller-consultant, working in shifts for two people;
  • Accountant;
  • Commodity expert and store manager;
  • The cleaner.

The main criterion for selection of sellers is reading, the ability to advise a person a book that corresponds to his age, approximate hobbies, etc. The consultant should understand classical works, know novelties and bestsellers. An obligatory quality is attentiveness and vigilance.

In the future, staff can be encouraged to develop their horizons, allowing them to buy books at a discount.

Work organization

Productivity of sellers largely depends on the correct organization of work activities. If the staff gets tired at work, then it is fraught with losses for business, because fatigue reduces the concentration of attention, the seller can incorrectly break through the goods or lose sight of the thief. The loss will be borne by the businessman.

The correct organization of work in the bookstore is based on the time of work. If the store will work 8 hours a day, then you can do with two pairs of sellers, which will alternate. If the working day exceeds 8 hours, then you need to create a daily and an evening schedule. It is noteworthy that it is not advisable for a book store to work until 5 or 6 pm and open in the morning, because at this time all people are at work, and buyers will be few. For the same reason, it makes no sense to do weekends on Saturday and Sunday. The optimal solution to the schedule will be the daily work of the store from 10 am to 21 pm.

A place

Every entrepreneur wants to have a place under the sun. It is not difficult to choose such a place. For the bookstore, the following options are ideal:

  • Large shopping centers;
  • Lively streets, boulevards;
  • Places close to metro, stops;
  • Not far from untwisted establishments;

It is desirable that the floor was the first and the entrance was on the front side of the street.

Good pedestrian traffic is not always a guarantee of success.

For example, a store that is located a few meters from a more famous competitor, can bring a small income, despite the fact that the patency of people is great.

And yet, it is worth choosing the central areas. Although the cost of rent there is higher, due to cross-country economic indicators can be much better than on the outskirts. In addition, attract customers can be due to a sufficiently bright and visible sign.

Do not open a bookshop in the city, or in remote locations that are poorly equipped with infrastructure facilities. It is not recommended to choose the basement floors, since it is rather difficult to get to such an establishment, and placing a sign is problematic.

Documentation

Before proceeding to registration, it is necessary to remember that the code for this case is according to the all-Russian classifier of economic activities – 52.47.

If you decide to open one-on-one books, it’s easier to formalize individual entrepreneurship (IP). When the owner is not alone, then it is necessary to open a limited liability company (LLC).

Russian legislation offers a special type of taxation for stores with a total area of ​​less than 140 square meters – this is a single tax on imputed income.
Registration of permits from inspections in the fire situation or SES are required only if the building was built by the entrepreneur himself.

Check-list of opening

  • Market analysis;
  • Analysis of competitors (assortment monitoring, average cost, location of their points)
  • Selection of the prevailing category of goods;
  • Search for a room;
  • Evaluation of the rental location, selection of the optimal offer;
  • Conclusion of the lease agreement;
  • Registration of IP or LLC, registration with the tax inspection;
  • Making a loan (if necessary);
  • Search publications for further cooperation;
  • Negotiations with editions;
  • Drawing up of the design project of the room;
  • Repair work;
  • Ordering of furniture and interior items;
  • Development of an advertising discovery campaign;
  • Development and coordination of a signboard;
  • Installation of signboards;
  • Purchase of equipment;
  • Development of shares, bonus system, discounts and other marketing activities;
  • Staff search;
  • Interviewing, selection of candidates;
  • Scheduling shifts;
  • Festive opening.

Is it profitable to open

On the question whether it is profitable to open a book store, there is no single answer. Everything depends only on the person who opens it. But that the entrepreneur has a finished image of this direction, it should be noted that the general trend of pricing in book business is the cost price plus a mark-up margin from 50 to 100 percent.

It is noteworthy that the payback period can last from one year to two. This is a long enough period, in which additional funds may be required. It’s safe to say that this type of business is not for those who love everything and immediately.

The first months after the discovery can be quite complex, both materially and morally. People still did not know about your existence, so the number of customers is small, and sales go unimportantly. Gradually, with the use of active advertising campaigns, competent marketing is quite possible to go into a plus.

In this business you need to be patient and do not expect big results right away. Business develops gradually, but subsequently gives a stable profit.

In addition, there is an opportunity to open a clerical department. It will be especially popular during the season of preparation for the training season, in the rest of the year, the office will bring a partial but significant income.

The book business is pretty insidious, and does not forgive gross mistakes.

Now you know how to open a bookstore. We hope that all our councils will be able to help in implementing the plans.

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