African foods and goods shop

African and Caribbean communities, people cooking African dishes at home, and shoppers looking for items the big supermarkets do not carry.

Mark-up on stock bought from wholesalers and importers. Fresh and frozen food brings regular repeat visits, while fabrics and gift items add higher-value sales.

• Knowing the products and what your community wants
• Buying and stock control
• Customer service
• Basic bookkeeping

• Register your food business with your local council before you start selling food
• Check labelling rules and import rules for products like dried fish, meat and some plant foods
• Fresh and frozen stock needs proper storage and temperature control, and waste can eat into profit
• Shop insurance including public liability and stock cover
• Check whether the premises have planning permission for retail use, and what business rates apply
• Keep records of suppliers and batches in case of a product recall

Startup costs are typically around £10,000 to £40,000, depending on the premises, shop fit-out and how much stock you buy at the start. These are estimates, so build your own budget from real supplier and rent quotes.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £5,000 to £25,000, depending on location, range and opening hours. That is revenue, not profit, so stock, rent, rates and waste still need to come out.

Check that you register your food business with your local council before selling food, and look at labelling and import rules for items like dried fish and meat. Also check planning permission for retail use, business rates and insurance.