High street costume and fancy dress shop
Open a small shop selling costumes, props and wigs, with a hire corner for local schools and drama groups.
- £8k-30k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
What it is
A small shop selling fancy dress, props, wigs and accessories, with the option to hire out costumes for shows, parties and school events. Customers can try things on and get advice in person.
Your first three steps
- Research local footfall and rents, and talk to schools and drama groups about what they would buy or hire
- Get quotes from trade suppliers and work out a first stock order and shop budget
- Find a small unit, check the lease terms and business rates, and plan a pre-Halloween opening
Who pays
Families, party goers, schools, nurseries, amateur theatre and dance groups, and event organisers.
How it makes money
Retail sales at a mark-up on trade stock, plus hire fees and deposits for costumes. Busy seasons such as Halloween, Christmas and school book weeks do much of the work.
Skills that help
- Buying and stock control
- Customer service
- Visual display and merchandising
Watch out for
- Check lease terms, business rates and any small business rate relief you may qualify for
- Public liability and stock or contents insurance
- Children's costumes must meet UK product safety rules, so check with Trading Standards
- Seasonal sales can leave quiet months, so plan your cash flow
- If you offer hire, set clear terms for deposits, damage and cleaning
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: high street costume and fancy dress shop
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to open a costume shop?
Startup costs are estimated at typically around £8,000 to £30,000, depending on the unit, fit-out and stock. Check lease terms, business rates and any small business rate relief you may qualify for.
How much can a fancy dress shop make a month?
Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around £3,000 to £12,000, depending on location, stock and whether you add hire. Seasonal sales can leave quiet months, so plan your cash flow.
What rules should I check before opening a costume shop?
Children's costumes must meet UK product safety rules, so check with Trading Standards. Also check public liability and stock or contents insurance, and set clear hire terms for deposits, damage and cleaning.
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