Setting up shop is a lot harder than it sounds. Established businesses make it look easy. They’re always right there, exactly where you need them. Either as part of an indoor shopping center or as a free-standing building with superb access. You always seem to be able to get the things you need from the biggest brands without ever having to put in the effort to drive for miles and miles.
So, you want to go into business. You’ve paid a web designer to come up with a snazzy website. You’ve invested in point of sale systems that not only help out with business management but also ensure you can accept every payment method under the sun. And you’ve even talked your friends into helping out for free on opening day. But where should your opening day be? Let’s take a look at some tips to help you set up shop.
Stay in Budget
There’s no point in fantasizing about being able to afford the rental costs of a unit in a prime location surrounded by established brands. Those units go for top dollar and the proprietors of the properties have an image to keep up (if they start letting any new and untested business move in, customer numbers will fall and the big profitable brands will leave).
Your fledgeling business can’t hope to get a look in. Instead, go for something in budget and set yourself realistic targets for saving and moving on.
Stay in Reach (Accessibility Is Vital)
Sticking to your budget does not mean locating your brand at the top of a tree in the middle of a Norwegian winter forest. While the costs of renting that space are likely to be low, nobody will know you’re there.
That’s why you need to be near to roads. Not just any roads. Not sleepy unused dirt paths that haven’t been used since a police chase took a wrong turn 25 years ago. No. You need busy roads. Like the roads that people take to get home from work. Whatever your budget, make sure the bulk of it goes on the main consideration of accessibility.
Have You Considered Recruiting?
Along the same lines as accessibility is recruiting. If the talent pool you require isn’t on the bus route, or if it’s just too far away to realistically ask your staff to drive each day (around 45 mins – 1h is an excessive one-way commute), your business will suffer.
That’s why business gravitates toward the big cities. It’s not just about customers. It’s about access to the right staff to keep your business moving.
Is the Area Safe? Is There Parking?
There are a hundred questions you could ask, such as “are the water pipes new-ish and when was the last time an electrician checked the electricity cables?”. But ultimately these are things the landlord should take care of. You need to worry about safety and parking.
If you can’t promise either to your customers, don’t expect many overly enthusiastic people to be knocking on your door to ask if you’re open yet at 7 AM on a Sunday.
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