Small japanese sweets shop

Local shoppers, fans of Japanese culture, tourists, students and people buying gifts.

You buy stock from importers or wholesalers and sell at a mark-up at the counter. Gift boxes, seasonal items and tea or drinks can raise the average sale.

• Customer service
• Stock buying and ordering
• Basic bookkeeping
• Knowledge of Japanese sweets and flavours

• Register your food business with your local council before trading; check how far ahead you need to do this
• Allergen information and English-language labelling on packaged goods, especially imported items; check with your local trading standards or environmental health team
• If you import directly from Japan, check current import rules and who counts as the importer; buying from a UK wholesaler is simpler at first
• Rent, business rates and fit-out costs; check the lease terms and whether the unit's permitted use covers a food shop
• Best-before dates and stock that does not sell, so start with small orders
• Public liability insurance, and employer's liability insurance once you hire staff

Startup costs are typically around £15,000 to £60,000, depending on the unit, fit-out, rent deposit and opening stock. Starting with small orders can limit waste. These are estimates, not quotes.

Check food business registration with your local council and how far ahead to apply, allergen and English-language labelling on imported goods, import rules if you buy direct from Japan, and whether the unit's permitted use covers a food shop.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around £4,000 to £18,000, depending on location, footfall and your range of sweets and gift boxes. Around 30 hours a week or more is the minimum estimated for a shop.