Have $2.5 Million+ to Rollout a Retail Concept?
Yes, That's Still a "Retail Startup"

  • Maybe you're a manufacturer preparing to launch your own chain of stores as a way to grow your brand.
  • Or, you want to experiment with a new retail concept shop.
  • Or, given the economic recession, you are being a retail opportunist:  snagging good real estate at "sympathetic" prices to launch your stores.
Your biggest challenge? What NOT to do! 
Since you likely have a board of directors or one or more investors to answer to, you must develop a rigorous business plan for your retail startup.  

There are many formats and templates available for "business plans". But, here are the three basic questions every business plan – no matter the format – must address and answer:
  1. What could we do?
  2. What should we do?
  3. What will we do?

Next, prepare financial pro formas (projections). It is essential that they be fully-integrated retail financial projections (more info here) and reflect how you will manage the largest asset of the retail operation – the inventory – to achieve what is true happiness: positive cash flow!
In a different phase of retail growth? See "First Store" or Growth|Expansion