How to Start a Convenience Store

Convenience store

A convenience store (sometimes called a variety store, corner store, or dépanneur) is usually a small store or shop that sells items such as: sweets, ice-cream, soft drinks, liquor products, snack foods, lottery tickets, cigarette, tobacco products, newspapers, magazines and some groceries. 


Often toiletries and other hygiene products are stocked, and some of these stores also offer money orders and wire transfer services. They cater to neighborhood customers and travelers. Nearly every corner in the country has some sort of smaller convenience stores.

They typically offers a variety of snack, foods and beverages as well as necessities. Often, a traveller looking for a quick lunch can purchase a hot dog or slice of pizza.

Prices in convenience stores tend to be higher than those at traditional grocery stores. Customers are willing to pay more for convenience.

Pricing is a large part of whether or not your store will be successful as well or whether you will make any money from it. You will want to price your items slightly higher if you're in a location where people do not have a choice for another retailer, but not so high that people will not pay the prices. These are important differences to keep in mind as you go about learning how to start a convenience store.

The location of your store determines whether or not you will make any money. Where you choose to locate your business will have a major impact on everything your shop does. The difference between selecting the wrong location and the right site could be the difference between business failure and success. These stores are usually situated handily close, Why then would a customer go to all the trouble of going to the mall or supermarket when there’s store down  the block or around the corner he can just run to.

A successful retail business depends greatly on offering the right product, at the right price, at the right time. Therefore, it is paramount to the success of your business to be able to locate the best sources for those products. As you take this step to starting a retail business and decide what products or product lines you would like to sell, it's then time to find places to buy those items at wholesale.

Unlike the regular shopping Malls or Supermarkets, most of the  stores operate twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Why then would a customer wait for the shopping mall to open  the following morning to get what he or she needs when there’s an open store he can go to right now? Convenience stores  stock about 500 products. Supermarkets, on the other hand, stock up to 50,000 or more products. Supermarkets offer a wide variety of products, while convenience stores have a much smaller line.

Starting your own business from scratch is always better (except otherwise of course)  because you get to learn more  if you start your own store or business from scratch. Most say that it is much sweeter because they know they did it on their own. Moreover, starting from scratch is less restrictive. It gives you room to improve upon what is currently being offered to the customers. Slowly branching out into other areas will let you know how interested your customers are in other products without spending a great deal up front.

Where you locate a your store is extremely important. People do not like to travel long distances to shop for basic items, such as food, snacks, cigarettes, and other convenience items. The store should be close to a residential area of at least 1,500 or 2,000 people. The store should be accessible to potential customers. By understanding how to start a convenience store and planning very carefully, you may be on the road to earn extra money and a better lifestyle for you and your family.

Before starting your business, there are several issues to consider such as business training, regulations, financing, taxation, managing your business, advertising. Your business may need licences and permits from the federal, provincial, and municipal levels of government.