Independent shoe shop with fitting service

Local families, older shoppers, people needing comfortable or hard-to-find sizes, and parents buying school shoes.

You buy stock from brands or wholesalers and sell at a mark-up. Extra income can come from shoe care products, insoles, laces and bags.

• Customer service and patience
• Buying stock and managing cash flow
• Learning to measure and fit feet properly

• Stock is the biggest cost and slow sellers tie up cash, so start with a tight range
• Check lease terms, business rates and any relief available for small premises
• Public liability and shop contents insurance, plus employer's liability insurance once you hire
• Consumer rights on returns and faulty goods, and product labelling rules, check with Trading Standards
• Competition from online retailers and big chains, so fitting advice and service need to be your strength

Startup costs are typically estimated at around £25,000 to £80,000, depending on the lease, fit-out and how much opening stock you buy. Stock is the biggest cost, so a tight starting range can help.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £8,000 to £30,000, depending on location, range, pricing and how well your fitting service brings in repeat customers. This is revenue before costs, not profit.

Check lease terms, business rates and any relief for small premises. Also check consumer rights on returns and faulty goods and product labelling rules with Trading Standards, plus public liability, contents and employer's liability insurance once you hire.