For many book lovers, opening a bookstore might turn out to be a dream endeavour. Independent booksellers are known to be a crucial part of their communities, encouraging the pleasure of reading in adults, and helping to make lifelong readers out of children. However, just like with any business, the realities of starting a bookstore are a lot more complex than the dream of bookselling.
Opening a bookstore business mostly revolves around selling printed books. For instance, like all “brick and mortar” retailers, successful bookselling requires a suitable location. This might be around other retailers, and somewhere there will be lots of foot traffic. Generally, the better the location, the more expensive the per – square – foot rental will be.
You will also have to pay rent for the location and in most of today’s retail environments, customers expect stores to be open when it’s convenient for them to shop. That almost always means some late nights, weekend days, and even many holidays. You will need a staff to engage and “hand – sell” to customers. It also entails time spent recruiting and training personable, book – knowledgeable people.
For the book lover, the act of buying books every season can be fun—as well as a lot of work. It entails reviewing publishers’ seasonal lists for the up and coming new titles, making judgments about books you’ve never read, and purchasing a mix of titles that appeal to a broad range of tastes (including books that don’t appeal to you personally as a reader).
Even if you have no nearby competition from other brick and mortar stores, there’s always competition from online retailers like Amazon.com, bn.com, the Apple iBookstore, and even many publishers who sell their books directly to the public.
Additionally, to stay abreast of the bestsellers and to stay competitive, you will need to stay current with the quickly changing technologies of online ordering, e – reader devices, e – book downloads, and print – on – demand equipment and capabilities. In addition to the text delivery technologies, staying engaged with social media marketing technologies keeps the bookseller connected to his or her customers.
However, owning a franchise in the book – selling industry is as rewarding as it is profitable. Book store franchises help connect readers to the material, people, places and information they love and enjoy best. It saves you most of the stress mentioned above, and puts you on the path of success and massive profits.
There are quite a number of bookstore franchises in the United States and you will need to make the important decision of investing in one of the many available franchises. Start by browsing the available franchises mentioned below to start on your path to becoming your own boss.
5 Best Bookstore Franchise Opportunities and Their Cost
-
Lemstone Store
This company provides the know-how in all areas of retail store development and operation. They provide a total development package including assistance with site selection and lease negotiation, architectural store design, store construction, fixtures, equipment, computers and software systems, balanced product mix, complete management training , accounting services, inventory management, advertising programs, on – site store set – up and grand opening assistance.
In addition, the Lemstone store support program goes beyond just “opening the door.” Regularly scheduled field visits to your store by experienced members of their operations team assist you with improving the management of your store.
Financial Requirements
- Liquid cash requirement: $9,500
- Initial Investment: $9,500 – $9,500
-
Dymocks
The Dymocks Franchise System has an advantage which very few franchise operations can offer. They have been booksellers for more than 125 years. It is this good name and their reputation for excellence in bookselling precedes them. Their story begins in 1879 when William Dymock commenced business as a bookseller in a rented room in Market Street.
As his business grew, he moved to larger and grander premises until, in the 1890’s he could claim to have a million books in stock. William Dymock died in his thirty – ninth year. Unmarried and childless, he left the business to his sister Marjory, who was married to John Forsyth. From that time onwards, the Forsyth family has managed Dymocks.
Financial Requirements
- Not Available
-
Club Tabby
This is the ideal place to go for retail boutique products, parties and makeovers that will have any girl feeling pampered and special. At Club Tabby, employees always try to deliver exceptional customer service, giving their customers the pampering that they deserve.
Their product lines and services represent the highest quality and value, while representing the most current styles and fashions. Club Tabby started with the vision of creating a retail store that focuses on carrying the newest trend setting items in the market.
Financial Requirements
- Liquid cash requirement: $40,000
- Net worth requirement: $225,000
- Initial Investment: $169,600 – $317,000
- Initial Franchise fee: $25,000
-
Brilliant Sky Toys & Books
This Bookstore was established as a prototype in 2002 in Lansing, Michigan with the singular aim of being the finest toy store in America.
Owing to the belief that the right playthings provide children with a gateway to physical, emotional, and cognitive development, the company focused on delivering this message in an atmosphere that is both active and interactive, with a unique aesthetic approach that is vibrant yet warm, exciting yet comforting, and exploratory yet safe. Rich colours and woods, low sightlines, and custom fixtures make the sensory experience at Brilliant Sky unlike any other.
Financial Requirements
- Liquid cash requirement: $150,000
-
Beat the Bookstore
Students are always expected to purchase particular textbooks for their classes. The college bookstore is normally the primary outlet near campus to buy the required books. While the Internet offers some alternatives, many students balk at online purchases due to shipping charges, uncertainty of book condition, time constraints and other reasons.
In the United States, buying textbooks is not the only dilemma today’s college students face. Immediately after the completion of a class, students look to recover some book expenses by selling the textbook. Howbeit, while there are some online options, the typical student will usually go back to the campus bookstore.
Traditional college bookstores set small buy – back quotas and brief buy – back periods for used books. This means many students will be offered a small amount for the book or nothing at all. However, Beat The Bookstore has designed a franchise program to sell books for less and buy them back for more thus serving the customers better.
Financial Requirements
- Liquid cash requirement: $9,500
- Initial Investment: $9,500 – $9,500
If all the elements of a retail business excite you, and the idea of working with books brings you joy, then owning a bookstore might be the right career for you. Start by researching any of the franchises mentioned above; ensure to complete your due diligence before making any investment.