Independent perfume shop

Local shoppers, gift buyers, tourists and people who want to smell a scent before buying.

Profit on each bottle sold, plus gift sets and extras such as wrapping. Repeat customers and gift seasons such as Christmas and Mother's Day matter a lot.

• Knowledge of fragrances and how to describe them
• Friendly, patient customer service
• Stock buying and pricing
• Basic shop accounts

• Lease terms, business rates and deposits, so check the full cost of a unit before committing
• Buy only from authorised or reputable suppliers, as fake stock is a risk
• Stock insurance, public liability insurance and employer's liability insurance if you hire staff
• Check cosmetics and product safety labelling rules, especially if you sell anything own-brand
• Sales are seasonal, so plan your cash flow for quiet months

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around £10,000 to £50,000, depending on the unit, deposits and stock. Check the full cost of a lease, business rates and deposits before committing to a unit.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £4,000 to £20,000, depending on location and the range you stock. Sales are seasonal, so it is sensible to plan your cash flow for quieter months.

Things to check include lease terms, business rates and deposits, plus stock insurance, public liability insurance and employer's liability insurance if you hire staff. Check cosmetics and product safety labelling rules for own-brand items, and buy only from authorised or reputable suppliers.