If you love beer and wine, the thought of opening a liquor store is one you\u2019ve probably considered on more than one occasion. While many industries have suffered in recent times, the liquor industry is still going very strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The global market revenue in 2022 is estimated at $1,810,873 million, while research into recent trends shows that people have shifted towards drinking at home gatherings rather than social occasions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There has arguably never been a more exciting time to enter this business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what do you need to open a liquor store in 2022? Read on for all the answers you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before starting any business, you must first be sure that it is the right venture for you. Otherwise, you will inevitably struggle to maintain the motivation needed to establish the brand and achieve sustained success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aside from the general appeal of becoming your own boss, the following perks are what makes working in the alcohol industry great:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In truth, there are many other reasons to start a business of this kind. The products appeal to millions of adults, boast a long shelf life, and don\u2019t require huge storage space. Meanwhile, you probably already have a good understanding of the products and will enjoy learning more about them. The knowledge that you\u2019ve helped enhance social lives is also hugely rewarding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before even looking at the finer details of a business plan, you must first check the financial viability of opening a liquor store. The harsh reality is that it\u2019s not cheap. Moreover, it\u2019s the initial outlay that is most likely to pose a major stumbling block. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The expenses that you will face during the pre-launch and early phases of running the business will include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overall, it is not uncommon for business owners to spend $100,000 on launching the liquor business. Following this, you can expect to keep spending thousands of dollars each month on staffing, marketing, and running the premises. Of course, any stock you sell will need to be replaced, too, so you have to factor in resupply costs as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can reduce some of the costs of opening the business by finding an existing liquor store for sale or an opportunity to open a franchise instead of your own brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’re wondering how to start an alcohol business venture, perhaps the most important tip is to ensure that no stone is left unturned. With the right action plan and strategy in place, you can tap into the multi-billion-dollar industry easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here is a list of the top tips that can help you in the process of opening your alcohol store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you can open a liquor shop business, you must understand the marketplace you are about to enter. Checking state and national industry statistics will be crucial while you should also take some time to analyze what is already available in your location. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As well as knowing what\u2019s available, you need to think about the gap in the market you\u2019ll exploit. With this in mind, you need to consider the target market too. Some of the key questions to ask include;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Understanding the industry will help you set realistic expectations and learn how the profitable business sector can build you a brighter future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A business plan is a legal document that will subsequently help you with funding and gaining liquor store permits. Crucially, it is an item you can return to time and time again throughout the planning phases for guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can find business plan templates online, including solutions specifically for alcohol distributors. It should cover these key aspects:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A solid business plan will become one of your most valuable assets because it can help establish trust from investors while also giving employees a clear action plan and brand identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The right location is one of the most important things to consider when opening a liquor store, not least because it will have a huge influence on foot traffic and overall liquor store income levels. Even if you plan to sell online too, a prestigious location and strong reputation in offline circles will aid the cause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are several factors to consider at this time. Ask yourself the following questions for guidance;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The right location may additionally open up drive-thru liquor store options, or at least the potential to provide a curbside pick-up service. Similarly, it may enable you to provide local deliveries directly to your customers without losing too much time or money,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While you won\u2019t confirm the venue just yet, creating a shortlist of ideal locations and anticipated costs will serve you well going forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The harsh reality is that your business idea won\u2019t go any further if you do not have the funds to get it off the ground. As already stated, you may be looking at a bill of over $100,000 to launch the company before tapping into any potential liquor store profit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are several ways for creative entrepreneurs to raise funds. Some of the most popular include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most important thing is to analyze all of the options. After all, a lack of capital is often the reason why one in two ventures fail<\/a> within five years, so make sure you are well prepared, and not just for the opening few months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Forming a legal entity is one of the most important requirements to open a liquor store. It is not possible to start trading until you have completed this step. The main types of entities that you are likely to consider are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Entrepreneurs looking to open liquor store businesses will often choose a sole proprietorship or an LLC depending on individual circumstances. Speaking to a dedicated legal advisor or lawyer is the best way to make the right selection for your business needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When forming your legal entity, you\u2019ll also want to consider the name of your company. Remember that the name of your liquor store can be the same as the brand name, but it doesn\u2019t have to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How much does a liquor store make? It doesn\u2019t matter if your business doesn’t have a bank account to conduct transactions or a license to sell alcohol. Securing a bank account with a business credit card will require a visit to the bank with your ID and Employer Identification Number (EIN)<\/a>. As s liquor store, you\u2019ll need a physical address, which shouldn\u2019t be a problem since you\u2019ll need a property anyway, unless you plan on selling online only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As for licenses, you will need to check state and national regulations. To complete this phase, your state\u2019s Alcohol Beverage Control Board will determine;<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the liquor store permits, you may need to consider special licenses for online sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A liquor store has high start-up costs, and you will encounter a lot of transactions (income and outgoing costs) once your doors open. As such, keeping your finances organized will be vital. To get this right, you\u2019ll want to complete a range of steps. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just because you have funding doesn\u2019t mean you don\u2019t need to spend your capital wisely. Besides, good organizational skills enable your liquor store business to have a great headstart and enter the market, creating a profit in record time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Branding and marketing are essential features of every business model. An alcohol store isn\u2019t any different. After cementing your brand name and choosing the right color scheme and logo, you must establish the best marketing strategies to help your business thrive in the industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When dealing with Pay-Per-Click (PPC), the cost per click in the alcohol industry is higher than in other industries. Insight like this should help you decide where and how to promote your company. Some of the options you\u2019ll need to consider are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The great news is that many of the products you stock will already be supported by extensive marketing campaigns from their manufacturers. Perfect your branding skills, and you\u2019ll be rolling in cash, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Setting the prices is an essential step for your business. You need to find the sweet spot between healthy profit margins and keeping consumers happy. In most cases, markups will be around the 25-40% mark. However, a convenience store’s prices will likely differ from those in a wine store, so bear in mind the type of shop you\u2019re planning to open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Crucially, you\u2019ll need to divide all beverages sold into four categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your liquor shop business will probably run special promotions on a regular basis, but knowing your general pricing before opening the doors will be key to having a strong start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When opening your alcohol store business, a lot of the success will depend on having the right around you. In fact, you\u2019ll have already embraced the support of experts like accountants, lawyers, market researchers, bank managers, license vendors, and web designers by this stage. However, you\u2019ll still need the most crucial aspect for the success of ongoing daily operations – the employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Workers may include floor workers, cashiers, customer care experts, in-house marketers, drivers, and more. You will want to keep the numbers as low as possible due to their salaries and bonus costs like healthcare and 401K contributions. When hiring employees, be sure to test their;<\/p>\n\n\n\n A winning team won\u2019t only represent your alcohol store in an effective way but will help your business grow and prosper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As mentioned above, stocking your inventory could account for up to $50,000 right at the start of your business journey. Therefore, managing it well is one of the most important steps to opening a liquor store, and for that, you\u2019ll need a good Point of Sale system. It should be able to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the right stock management system, you should ensure that the liquor store is protected by insurance. This will help prevent losses caused by bottles dropping off the shelves or shoplifting. Naturally, a sound security system should be installed for further peace of mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By now, you will have:<\/p>\n\n\n\n All that\u2019s left is to arrange your big opening. Use this as an opportunity to build excitement for your new company, and local drinkers will quickly check out what your business has to offer. We\u2019ll raise a glass to that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Further Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Opening a liquor store business does require hard work and a significant investment. When done well, though, it is one of the most stable industries to be involved in. Crucially, a combination of online and offline sales will enable you to achieve significant profits for immediate and long-term success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are passionate about alcohol and running a business, there has never been a better time to start.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you love beer and wine, the thought of opening …<\/p>\nForm a Legal Entity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Get Your Bank Account and Licenses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Organize Your Finances<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Establish Your Marketing Strategy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Set your Prices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Build Your Team<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Stock Your Inventory<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Prepare for the Opening<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Final Words<\/h2>\n\n\n\n