Independent greengrocer's shop

Local residents, regular shoppers, and nearby cafes or small restaurants if you also supply trade customers.

Retail sales of produce at a mark-up, plus higher-margin extras. Trade sales to cafes can add steady orders.

• Buying and judging produce quality
• Stock rotation to reduce waste
• Customer service and local marketing
• Managing costs, rent and staff rotas

• Lease terms, rent, business rates and deposits, ideally get a solicitor to review them
• Register as a food business with your local council and meet food hygiene rules
• Public liability insurance, stock cover and employer's liability insurance once you hire
• Shop signage, change of use and planning rules, check with your council
• Waste, long hours and tight margins on fresh stock

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £10,000 to £50,000, depending on the premises, deposits, fit-out and opening stock. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £8,000 to £35,000, depending on location and whether you also supply trade customers.

Check your lease terms, rent, business rates and deposits, ideally with a solicitor. Also check food business registration with your council, food hygiene rules, shop signage, change of use and planning, and insurance including employer's liability once you hire.

You need to buy and judge produce quality, rotate stock to reduce waste, serve customers and manage costs, rent and rotas. Estimates suggest at least around 40 hours a week, and fresh stock can mean long hours.