Traditional sweet shop on your high street

Local families, children with pocket money, gift buyers, tourists and visitors, and people buying for parties and events.

You buy sweets in bulk and sell them at a higher price per 100g or per pack. Gift bags, hampers and seasonal items such as Christmas and Easter lines can bring in higher-value sales.

• Friendly customer service
• Stock buying and pricing
• Basic bookkeeping
• Keeping a shop tidy and appealing

• Food business registration with your local council, and a food hygiene inspection, check what applies to you
• Allergen and labelling rules for loose and pre-packed sweets, check with Trading Standards or your council
• Weighing scales used for selling by weight generally need to be approved for trade use, check the rules
• Public liability insurance and stock cover
• Lease terms, business rates and deposit, read carefully and consider small business rates relief if you may qualify
• Trade is often seasonal, so plan cash flow for quiet months

Startup costs are typically around £10,000 to £40,000, depending on the premises, shop fit-out, opening stock range, deposit and lease terms. Read lease terms carefully and plan your budget before committing to a unit.

Monthly revenue is typically around £4,000 to £20,000, depending on location, footfall, stock range and time of year. Trade is often seasonal, so it is worth planning your cash flow for the quieter months.

Things to check: food business registration with your local council and a food hygiene inspection; allergen and labelling rules for loose and pre-packed sweets, via Trading Standards or your council; and whether your weighing scales are approved for trade use.