Opening a grocery store is not a new idea, but for those who want to develop a business plan from scratch, it is not a bad option. In addition, there is an opportunity to earn money from the first days and, with the correct presentation of goods, compete with supermarkets.
Where can I get money for a fruit and vegetable store?
Selling vegetables requires certain funds to start. You can borrow money from a bank, borrow from friends, find a partner and open a grocery store together. Another option is that part of the amount can be received from the state for business development. Last option requires the fulfillment of certain conditions. You must:
- To be registered with the employment service means to be unemployed.
- Provide proof of income from your previous place of work.
- Provide the commission with a business plan.
Start-up capital: how much savings will it take to open a vegetable kiosk?
As for the preliminary calculations, you will need to purchase before opening the kiosk:
- cash register– 12 thousand rubles;
- refrigerated display case - 60 thousand rubles;
- freezer – 18 thousand rubles. (one may not always be enough);
- scales – 8 thousand rubles;
- showcases – 4 thousand rubles. (you need several);
- counters – 3 thousand rubles. (you need several).
As a result, the sale of fruit requires 105 thousand rubles. for equipment. The cost is average. You can spend many times more. Plus, you need to add to the amount the maintenance of a cash register, scales, and refrigeration units. Such services cost 2 thousand rubles. per month.
But these are, so to speak, the “insides” of the kiosk, but we still need to find a place where they will be located. Amount for rent per month for a premises of 45 sq. m. - 31,500 rubles, that is, per square meter - 700 rubles. And the most important thing is the purchase of vegetables. For them you need to pay approximately 150 thousand rubles. per month. And another plus is to agree on delivery. And don’t forget about the salary of two sellers and a loader - 45,000 rubles. 15 thousand rubles each. each month.
Opening a store without renovation is rare. Set aside at least 50 thousand rubles to put the premises in order. Sanitary and epidemiological inspection - 5 thousand rubles. And besides, to open a kiosk/mini-shop, and for a month of its uninterrupted operation, you need 600 thousand rubles. This does not take into account any unexpected incidents.
In subsequent months, costs will be for employee wages, goods, equipment maintenance, rental premises and housing and communal services. Approximately monthly you need an amount of 230,000 rubles.
You can earn 250-350 thousand rubles from selling vegetables and fruits. monthly. The amount depends on the markup percentage. The largest income in December-January can reach 400-500 thousand rubles. But during these months you need to purchase more goods. To make more money, most often in small kiosks the owners themselves work as sellers and loaders at first.
Features of choosing suppliers and premises
A vegetable business simply needs a reliable supplier - this is the key to success. Then the products will always be fresh and selected. How to find this “trusted” one? Trial and error is the most feasible plan. It is better to first order goods from several suppliers and eventually determine the right one for yourself.
It’s good if your products are environmentally friendly, domestic and local. A business plan with such a clause is to attract buyers who care that the products are grown in their area of residence. That is, you need to find farmers and buy goods from them. But there is a nuance: in this situation, you need to obtain documentation confirming the safety of vegetables and fruits in terms of the content of harmful substances in them.
You can go shopping for goods yourself, monitoring the selection and checking the quality of the products on the spot. It’s good if you can conclude an agreement with the supplier with a “return of unsold goods” clause. But this is rare in similar business. Therefore, such a plan should be abandoned and prices for damaged goods should be reduced. Thus, there will be fewer losses. Yes, you may have to sell vegetables and fruits at cost. But even such a plan has a plus - no losses.
As for the premises, remember that you need space not only for the kiosk itself, but also for sorting and storing products. A good ventilation system is not only an opportunity to avoid unpleasant odors in the building, but also to preserve the products’ presentation for longer.
A vegetable store of 45 m2 is enough to grow and not be at a constant loss at first. Later, you can rent more space, open a kiosk, and more than one. It is better to place pavilions in residential areas, near bus stops ground transport, exits from the metro, away from supermarkets.
Assortment
As for the quantity of goods, the smallest and optimal assortment is not 35 items. Some managers advise starting with 60 products and gradually weeding out those that are not in demand among residents of a certain area. The last option implies large extra costs, troubles. It is better to start small, but of high quality, and, if necessary, increase the variety of products.
Anyone who wants to open a store needs to be prepared for seasonal influxes of customers and recessions. In the summer, there is less demand for fruits and vegetables, but the greatest opportunity to earn money is December. Getting ready for New Year's holidays, people save less. Also during this period there will be a demand for exotic products.
How to choose a product for counters? One way is to observe the assortment of fruit and vegetable pavilions. If they work long time, they already know what customers need. After observations, collection of information, analysis, you can draw up a plan for future purchases.
Selling fruits and vegetables: advantages
If supermarkets purchase products in large quantities, then their products are often not ripe. And this, you see, affects the taste. A small store/kiosk can afford to order goods every day, every other day. Thus, riper and always fresh products will be sold out faster. The loss of goods, even with a decrease in prices for spoiled goods, is 15-20%.
A kiosk or small grocery store is always less of a risk. But in order to reduce the list of failures to a minimum, it is necessary to develop a business plan, thought out to the smallest detail. This is where you can calculate the amount of the markup. It should take into account payment for energy, payment of taxes, payment of salaries to employees, the cost of gasoline/gas for the delivery of vegetables and fruits. The markup for this type of product ranges from 30% (optimal) to 200-300. The store will pay for itself in a year and a half.
If you still want to open a grocery store, then be prepared for ups and downs, but the main thing is to believe in success, your strength and not give up!
Trading vegetables and fruits is a fairly common business. With the right approach to business, a vegetable stall can bring good income. There is an average level of competition in this market segment.
Starting capital
When thinking about how to open a vegetable stall, calculate future expenses. The amount of investment may vary depending on the size of the locality. To open a vegetable stall in the regional center you will need approximately 500 thousand rubles. This amount includes the following expenses:
- for opening and legalizing an enterprise, obtaining certificates from various government agencies– about 10 thousand rubles;
- for renting a stall – from 40 thousand rubles;
- for the purchase of equipment: slides, refrigerated display case, scales, cash register - 50 thousand rubles;
- for equipment maintenance – 2 thousand rubles per month.
To start, you can buy used counters and slides. Partial refusal of hired labor will help you save money. Take on the responsibilities of a buyer or seller. Additional staff can be recruited after the promotion of the outlet. This way you will get to know the market from the inside, study your competitors, and feel all the nuances of your own business.
Registration
Select the form of doing business: individual entrepreneur or LLC. An individual entrepreneur opens faster; maintaining documentation does not require special knowledge. Fines for violations for individual entrepreneurs are less than for LLCs. But there is also greater responsibility: in case of failure, you will be personally responsible for all debts and fines of your enterprise. Opening an LLC is a more expensive and time-consuming process. You will need an accountant to keep records. However, the presence of LLC authorized capital guarantees the integrity of your personal savings. In the event of bankruptcy, funds from the authorized capital will be spent to satisfy the claims of creditors.
After registering your business activity, you will have to obtain permission to open a retail outlet. The easiest way would be to open a stall in the market. If you want to set up a kiosk near a stop or metro station, you will have to obtain permission from the building and architectural department. You will also need opinions from inspection commissions of sanitary, fire, and trade services. Be prepared for all sorts of bureaucratic tricks. Study the laws so that representatives of various structures do not take you by surprise.
Choosing a location and premises
Before opening a vegetable stall, draw up a business plan. Calculate how many visitors per day you will need to serve in order for your expenses to pay off. Then go outside, stand near the future retail outlet and count the people passing by. If the number of passers-by significantly exceeds the number of your potential buyers, feel free to open a stall in this place.
Options for placing a retail outlet:
- near the metro or stop. To attract the attention of passers-by, work on outdoor advertising;
- V residential area. The stall will be open for regular customers living in the neighborhood.
Don't forget about transport links. Vegetables will need to be delivered to the kiosk somehow, right? It will be good if you manage to rent a warehouse located near the kiosk. In this case, you can purchase vegetables in large quantities and deliver them to the kiosk as needed. We're talking about vegetables long-term storage. Perishable fruits will have to be purchased in small quantities. Conditions for storing products with a short shelf life can only be provided within the walls of special warehouse complexes.
Build a kiosk according to a good architectural design. No matter how much you want to save money, don’t discount the design of your point of sale.
The design can be ordered from freelancers. It’s very inexpensive, sometimes you can get it for just 500 rubles. It is best to use a specialized platform, for example, “I will perform”, where the process of interaction with performers will be simple and safe.
Modern buyers are accustomed to large counters, glass display cases, and good lighting. The purchasing process should be comfortable. Take care of the asphalt near the kiosk, equip a low stand for bags, and customer interest in your outlet will grow before your eyes.
Minimum equipment:
- racks for goods,
- counter,
- chair,
- cash register,
- scales,
- small safe.
Work with suppliers and assortment
Try to find good suppliers. Make every effort to do this. Of course, you won’t be able to separate the “wheat from the chaff” right away. Therefore, purchase goods in small quantities. Over time, you will understand which partner is better to deal with. The ideal option is one permanent supplier who fully supplies your business with its products.
The following factors are important:
- reputation of the supplier in your city,
- origin of the goods,
- taste qualities of fruits and vegetables,
- availability of certificates of conformity.
Your main competitors will be points in markets and vegetable departments of supermarkets. Therefore, you must offer something different from your competitors. Your vegetable stall will differ from a market outlet in terms of service and tidiness. The main advantage over supermarkets is the domestic origin of the products.
Offer your customers local tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, and pears. Find a dealer who specializes in the supply of berries and fruits from southern regions. Complete the assortment with out-of-season bananas, oranges, and lemons. Add some exotic fruits. Offer your customers dried fruits, herbs, and juices. Place a small freezer with frozen fruit in your stall.
Staff
Is it worth opening a vegetable stall if you cannot personally control the process? No, it's not worth it. Vegetables and fruits are a business that you need to constantly keep in your hands. Once again, we strongly recommend saving on staff. Occupy at least one of the positions at your company. If you don’t want to trade, hire a seller and supply the goods yourself.
Experienced entrepreneurs advise personally handling deliveries. Some wholesalers offer goods with delivery. This option is not suitable for you. Having personally arrived at the wholesale warehouse, you can choose the product to your liking. In addition, delivery costs are often included in the price of the product. And they don’t just lay it down, but greatly increase it.
It will be good if at first you can personally control the trading process. The issue of control becomes especially relevant when the business goes beyond the family. Trading loves counting. No one will give you guarantees of the honesty of the hired seller. Therefore, try to be present at the point as often as possible. From time to time, trade on your own, replacing the seller at the stall. You may learn a lot about your employee from talkative customers.
Conduct re-registration periodically. Don’t skimp on your salary, otherwise no amount of inventory will help you. A person who earns little will still steal from you or “borrow” money from the cash register until payday. The optimal remuneration option is rate and percentage. This form of payment encourages the seller to work.
Profitability
The minimum markup on your product will be 30%, the maximum – about 250%. When setting the price, do not forget that vegetables and fruits tend to spoil. According to experts, about 10–20% of produce spoils at a vegetable stall. This product can be sold at a 50-60% discount before it becomes obsolete. Finally, spoiled products will have to be thrown away. It is estimated that the payback period for a stall ranges from 2 to 6 months, depending on the season. In winter, fruits and vegetables are in high demand, so investments pay off faster. After promotion, the business will bring in about 50–100 thousand rubles monthly.
With proper organization, a business based on the sale of vegetables and fruits will be stable. The demand for food is always constant as people need to replenish their vitality due to nutrition. Even in times of crisis, everyone finds money for food and strives not to skimp on vitamins, since it is on these factors that a person’s health and the availability of energy, so necessary to ensure a normal level of life, depend. The advantage of this type of business is that opening a small store does not involve the complexity of obtaining permits, obtaining expensive leases, and large-scale financial investments.
Vegetable and fruit business
Planning entrepreneurial activity in the fruit and vegetable direction, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with its nuances, which may have an impact on the performance of the outlet. When opening it, you need to strive to earn a positive reputation in the eyes of potential clients. To attract them, you should first think through and correctly formulate the assortment range. You won’t be able to earn much by offering several items of domestic products. Its range needs to be expanded to include greens, mushrooms, dried fruits and exotic imported fruits.
The productivity of a business directly depends on the location of the retail outlet and the design of the storefront. It is best to locate a store or stall close to residential areas, in areas with high traffic, but at a distance from competitors.
Seasonal demand and formation of assortment range
The business of selling fruits and vegetables is seasonal.
During the holidays, people buy imported fruits such as bananas, tangerines, oranges and kiwis. In winter, apples and the entire pre-holiday assortment are popular. In the summer, seasonal fruits and berries should be placed on the display case, not forgetting to arrange them in an appetizing way using trays and plastic forms. Strawberries, grapes, currants, raspberries, watermelons and melons will be popular. Vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, beets, onions and garlic are in demand at any time of the year, so the entrepreneur needs to make sure that they are constantly present in the product range.
Business planning
In spring, the cost of goods always increases by 60 percent. At this time, consumers prefer to buy fruits, juices, dried fruits, herbs and the first vegetables necessary to provide the body with vitamins. In the fall, you can count on wholesale purchases from customers for storage in the cellar, so you should include an option such as wholesale in your trading style.
What knowledge will be needed
An entrepreneur must have information about the harvest time of each vegetable and fruit in order to purchase them at a low cost.
When dealing with the question of how to open a vegetable store from scratch, you should study the characteristics of the products, their varieties and storage rules. Such knowledge will allow you to give recommendations to buyers who doubt their choice. Additional information to consumers will help increase the rating of the outlet, since it is always pleasant to communicate with a sociable and competent person who is ready to help with advice.
Suppliers
When drawing up a business plan for a vegetable store, you should include a section on finding a supplier. You should not plan to cooperate with farms, since they offer a limited range of products, the price of which, most likely, will not be loyal, due to the purchase of an insufficient batch of goods, in their opinion. It is recommended to purchase products at wholesale stores, because there you can purchase a wide range of favorable price, since wholesale prices begin to apply after purchasing several tens of kilograms.
Sale of vegetables and fruits– one of business ideas from scratch, although not new. But this is also its advantage, because there is no need to follow the unbeaten path. In addition, this is one of the few niches in the trading system that allows even a novice businessman to compete with large retail chains.
Advantages of a shop selling vegetables and fruits
Supermarkets purchase vegetables and fruits in large quantities, so the products are sometimes unripe, which greatly affects their taste qualities. A small store can afford to buy fresh fruits and vegetables every day, which means that such high-quality goods will sell out quickly. At the same time, the losses of small shops with proper organization of procurement and sales will be less than 15%, but not more than 20. But this is only one side - positive.
The problem may be the selection of premises for organizing a point sales of vegetables and fruits. You will need a retail space of at least 45 square meters. meters. It is necessary to provide 2-3 additional rooms where perishable goods can be sorted. It is imperative to make a good ventilation system.
It is better to place the pavilion in residential areas at some distance from large retail outlets and supermarkets.
For successful business development, it is important to provide for the possibility of selling related products, because in the summer the demand for fruit and vegetable products decreases. At this time, you can offer customers the purchase of freshly squeezed juice and drinks.
Another feature of a store that will sell vegetables and fruits can be sales.
To do this, you will need to find farmers and buy fruits and vegetables from them. True, you will have to acquire documents confirming the safety of agricultural products in terms of the content of harmful substances in them.
Opening a store
To open a store, you will need to register an individual entrepreneur, obtain permission from the SES, state trade inspection, state supervision and electrical supervision to conduct trade.
Since vegetables and fruits are “capricious” goods, it is advisable to draw up a competent agreement with suppliers, which will include a clause allowing the return of part of the unsold goods. It is better to conclude an agreement with wholesale stores for several years, and go to purchases yourself. In this case, the risk of purchasing illiquid products will be minimized.
One of the ways to reduce losses from food spoilage is to timely reduce the price of goods that are beginning to deteriorate.
It is better to reduce the price and sell fruits and vegetables even without a trade markup than to make losses.
Independent purchases will require constant availability of transport. This important point. If you don't own a car, you can rent one. You will have to go shopping often. To reduce costs, it is necessary to carefully study the demand for vegetables and fruits. Some of them are in very high demand, others are of interest to a narrow circle of buyers.
For example, exotic fruits They are unlikely to be of interest to residents of residential areas.
If the store is located in shopping center, that is, the opportunity to sell expensive exotics. Fruit and vegetable pavilions operating for a long time can help in choosing the right assortment. If they manage to stay afloat, then they are doing everything right.
It is enough to observe the assortment of several fruit and vegetable shops or stalls to understand which assortment of goods is most in demand. Having analytical information, you can plan the required volume of purchases and calculate fuel consumption for the month.
Any business starts with. Such a plan will allow you to calculate the risks and payback period of the store according to sale of vegetables and fruits. It is necessary to correctly calculate the size of the required trade margin, taking into account the payment for energy resources, payment of taxes, payment wages workers and purchasing fuel for transport. Trade margin for fruits and vegetables it starts from 30% and reaches 250-300. The payback period for such a store can vary from 6 to 18 months.
Shop equipment
The main equipment for a store is display cases, shelving and refrigerators or freezers for frozen products. This is another option for related products that will help reduce risks from seasonality of demand. To compete with other stores, you need a diverse assortment. A store selling fruits and vegetables must have at least 35 types of goods.
The influx of customers and, accordingly, such a store brings in the greatest income in December. During this period, there is an opportunity to earn more than 200 thousand rubles. In other months, the profit will be about 100 thousand rubles.
A very important point is the display of goods. It is worth using to display knowledge on psychological impact colors influence the mood and purchasing activity of consumers. The more attractive the design of the premises and display windows, the more potential buyers the store will attract. Therefore, you need to attach importance to such little things as accessories in the form of wicker baskets, vases or “bouquets” of fruit.
Sale of vegetables and fruits It’s not a complicated business, but it can’t be said to be simple either. If you manage to reach a profitable level and stay afloat, you can think about opening a chain of stores.
Good luck to you!
The vegetable business is considered attractive by many businessmen. This is explained by the demand for products among the broad masses of the population, and the receipt of good profits from the sale of goods: one small stall or store can bring in about $3,000 a month, and the amount increases significantly in the winter season. Fast payback due to insignificant investments for a large business - approximately $20,000.
Organizing your own business and documents
Before opening a grocery store, you should complete all the necessary paperwork required for the business in question. Where to start? It is required to register an individual entrepreneur, collect all documents for the fire inspection, as well as the Sanitary and Epidemiological Station. The tax office will need to obtain permission to use the selected premises for trade. The simplest option, from the point of view of paperwork, for opening a vegetable business is a tent, for example, in a market. You will definitely need permission from the Department of Construction and Architectural Works if you plan to open a tent near a metro station or bus stop. Do not forget about the conclusion of trade services.
Many entrepreneurs advise opening several points around the city in order to reduce costs. A visit to the warehouse is also a must. The reduction in financial costs is due to the following:
- Increasing the volume of purchases;
- The ability to monitor the operation of each object, optimizing the entire trading process;
- Reducing costs to a minimum in every department.
A business selling vegetables from scratch is impossible without the appropriate commercial equipment. These are freezers, refrigerated display cases, good scales and a cash register. In addition, you will need slides, various display cases and sales counters.
Location of the vegetable stall
Setting up a vegetable stall at a local market is not the best best option to start a successful business due to high competition. Experts recommend choosing a location located close to large residential complexes. The department can be rented in a large multi-storey building, most residential complexes are new buildings, the first floors of which are empty. You can pitch a tent nearby bus stops, since in after working hours people will definitely come in for fresh vegetables.
When determining where to start, you should first take into account the fact that the minimum area of the room should be about 40–50 square meters. m. Form of organization – no less important question. There are two ways:
- The operation is similar to a “mini market”, where the buyer himself chooses the desired product and pays for it at the cashier.
- Traditional selling: contacting a salesperson to obtain products.
The first method is more optimal for both the entrepreneur and the buyer. People like to choose the goods and their quantity themselves, they do not want to stand in line, etc. A businessman will be in the “plus”, since with this form it is possible to serve many more clients.
Wide range of grocery store
Successful sale of vegetables must be based on working with proven and reliable suppliers, and this requires certain experience. It is important to consider the reputation of the farmer who delivers the vegetables to the tent. It is necessary to clarify information about the conditions for growing vegetables and territorial features. All products must have a certificate of conformity; anything that is not suitable for consumption should not be offered to customers.
In order to attract buyers to vegetable tent you can buy exotic goods, but not too expensive, since the demand, for example, in new residential areas for these products may be small. The wider the assortment in the department, the more people will come. In addition, customers are always pleased if the room smells pleasant, so any spoiled products should be carefully monitored. Selling in a stall or your own small shop must be carefully thought out: everything that is best and attractive must be placed in the most visible place; it is good if, in addition to fresh goods, frozen or canned products are also offered. Some make their “highlight” the sale of juices squeezed in front of the buyer.
Investments at the beginning
A small vegetable department will cost half a million rubles. This amount includes the following: Starting investments directly depend on the locality in which you plan to open a tent or vegetable store. According to statistical data, in a large regional center:
- Rent of premises - no less than 30,000–40,000 rubles;
- Purchase necessary equipment– about 60,000 rubles;
- Expenses for registration of mandatory documents – 8,000–10,000 rubles;
- Maintenance of purchased equipment – 3,000 rubles. monthly.
You can save money by purchasing already used equipment or by working first as a seller and buyer, refusing to hire personnel. At successful development You can safely hire employees.
Revenues, direct expenses and profitability
Before opening a vegetable stall, tent or department selling vegetables, you need to draw up a business plan yourself or seek help from specialists. On average, this type of business can bring in up to $3,000 per month, and if there are many outlets, then the profit increases accordingly.
When determining possible costs, it is necessary to take into account the costs of transporting products, including the work of loaders and fuel. Writing off the goods will cost about 3,000 rubles, paying taxes - 30,000 rubles, plus monthly rent - from 40,000 rubles.
The business in question will pay for itself in an average of six months; some entrepreneurs return the money within 2 months after opening. Selling vegetables is a seasonal business: in winter, products are more expensive, which is reflected in the overall profit. With proper promotion and organization, this business will generate high income and prosper for many years to come.