Start a mexican grocery shop

Mexican and Latin American residents, home cooks, students, foodies and nearby restaurants and street food traders.

You buy from importers and wholesalers and sell at a mark-up. Extras like fresh tortillas, ready-made salsas and gift boxes can lift the average spend.

• Sourcing and ordering stock
• Customer service
• Basic bookkeeping and stock control
• Knowledge of Mexican ingredients

• Register your food business with your local council before trading, and check how far ahead you need to do this
• Check rules on imported food, especially meat, dairy and other animal products, with the Food Standards Agency or your importer
• Labels must meet UK rules, including English-language ingredient and allergen information. Check imported goods comply
• You would need a licence to sell alcohol such as tequila or Mexican beer. Check with your council
• Shop lease terms, business rates and a deposit can be a big commitment, so check them carefully before signing
• Fresh produce and tortillas spoil quickly, so plan ordering to limit waste
• Public liability and stock insurance

Startup costs are typically around £15,000 to £60,000, depending on the premises, the lease and deposit, and how much stock you buy at the start. Treat this as an estimate and price your own plan carefully.

Monthly revenue is typically around £8,000 to £35,000, depending on your location, the range you stock and how many regular customers you build. This is revenue, not profit, so rent, stock and other costs come out of it.

Check how far ahead you must register your food business with the council, the rules on imported food such as meat and dairy, English-language ingredient and allergen labels, and whether you need a licence to sell alcohol. Also check lease terms and business rates.