Neighbourhood chinese grocery store

Local Chinese and wider Asian communities, international students, home cooks, and nearby restaurants buying small quantities.

Retail margin on each item sold. Fresh produce brings people in often, while packaged goods and imported specialty items usually carry better margins. Some shops also sell to small restaurants in bulk.

• Choosing products customers want
• Stock control and ordering
• Customer service, ideally Mandarin or Cantonese as well as English
• Handling fresh food safely

• Food business registration with your local council, and any food safety supervisor requirement in your state
• Labelling rules for imported packaged food, which must follow the Food Standards Code, so check before you buy stock
• Public liability and property insurance, plus workers compensation once you hire staff
• Lease terms, fit-out costs for refrigeration, and food waste from fresh produce
• Check whether selling products such as rice wine needs a separate liquor licence

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $60,000 to $250,000, depending on premises size, lease terms, stock and fit-out such as refrigeration. Lease terms, fit-out costs and food waste from fresh produce are worth checking carefully.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $30,000 to $120,000, depending on location, product range and customer base. This is revenue before costs such as rent, stock and wages, so work out your own numbers before committing.

Check food business registration with your local council and any food safety supervisor requirement in your state. Also check Food Standards Code labelling for imported packaged food before buying stock, and whether selling products such as rice wine needs a separate liquor licence.