Starting a religious bookstore is like starting any other retail venture. To start, you have to have capital, drive and an understanding of the needs and wants of your demographic. Plan on not making a profit for three years and line up savings, investments and a second job. Whatever god or gods you serve, they can't do anything for you if you don't have the commitment to see your store through to the end.
Come up with a catchy and appealing name that appeals to your demographic. If you plan on having an online presence, register a domain name as well.
Partner up with someone who is business savy, such as an accountant or business manager. He will help you keep the books and plan out financing, while you can specialize in choosing inventory and targeting your audience. Alternately, you can take some beginning courses in financial management at a local junior or business college.
Buy or lease a space. Unless you have a lot of money to invest, do not attempt to start with a big space and then "grow into" it. Save money by finding a compact storefront. You can always upgrade to a new space later.
Decide which religion or religions you wish to cater to. Research which religions are strong in your community and which are already served by a religious bookstore. If you live in a more liberal, modern community, you may want to cover a broad range of faiths and include books on spirituality that are useful to members of many religions. If you live in a fairly isolated, conservative community on the other hand, you may do better locking in a particular religion or religious denomination as your clientèle.
Contact distributors and establish trade accounts. You may also be able to order directly from some publishers.
Acquire shelving, tables and chairs, lighting and other furniture. One of the cheapest ways to do this is to go to going out of business sales at other stores and buy their furniture.
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