Local souvenir shop

Tourists and day visitors, plus locals buying gifts for friends and family elsewhere.

You buy stock at wholesale or from local makers and sell it at a mark-up. Takings are highest in the busy season, so careful stock buying matters.

• Choosing products that sell
• Customer service
• Managing stock and cash flow
• Visual display

• Seasonal income: check you can cover rent and costs through winter
• Lease terms, business rates and any rate relief you may be eligible for, check with the council
• Public liability and stock insurance
• Product safety and labelling rules for items you sell, especially toys and anything for children, check Trading Standards guidance
• Planning use class and shop signage permissions, check with your local council

Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £40,000, depending on the premises, the shop fit-out and how much stock you buy. Check lease terms and business rates before committing to a unit.

Monthly revenue is typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on your location, the products you stock and the time of year. Income is seasonal, so check you can cover rent and costs through winter.

Check lease terms, business rates and any rate relief you may be eligible for with the council. Also check public liability and stock insurance, Trading Standards guidance on product safety and labelling, and planning use class and signage permissions.