How to start an asian grocery shop

Local Asian families, students, home cooks and neighbours who want authentic ingredients they cannot easily find in a supermarket.

You buy from wholesalers and importers and sell at a markup. Regular weekly shoppers, popular staples and a few higher-margin specialty lines drive sales.

• Knowing Asian ingredients and what customers ask for
• Stock ordering and pricing
• Customer service, ideally with community languages

• Food business registration with your local council and food safety rules in your state, including labelling of imported products
• Imported foods may need to meet Australian biosecurity and labelling rules, so check with the Department of Agriculture and your supplier
• Lease terms, rent and fit-out costs, as these can make or break a shop
• Stock with short use-by dates can lead to waste, so order carefully
• Public liability and stock insurance, plus workers compensation once you hire staff
• Check whether selling alcohol, if you want to, needs a separate state liquor licence

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $40,000 to $150,000, depending on the premises, fit-out and opening stock. Lease terms, rent and fit-out costs can make or break a shop, so check them carefully before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $20,000 to $90,000, depending on location, range and opening hours. Revenue is not profit, so allow for rent, stock and wages. Short use-by dates can lead to waste, so order carefully.

Check food business registration with your local council and your state's food safety rules, including labelling of imported products. Imported foods may need to meet biosecurity and labelling rules, so check with the Department of Agriculture and your supplier. Also check whether selling alcohol needs a state liquor licence.