Start a neighborhood asian grocery store

Local Asian families, students, and home cooks of all backgrounds who want authentic ingredients close to home.

You buy from distributors and importers and sell at a markup. Higher-margin items like snacks, drinks and house-made or prepared foods help balance low-margin staples like rice.

• Knowing the cuisines and products you sell
• Ordering and stock control
• Customer service
• Basic bookkeeping

• Retail food permits: check with your county health department, especially for fresh meat, fish, produce or prepared food
• State sales tax registration and a resale certificate for buying from wholesalers
• Imported food labeling rules: check FDA requirements, since some imported products may need English labels
• General liability and property insurance, plus workers' compensation if you hire
• Thin margins and spoilage on fresh and frozen items, so start with a modest range
• Lease terms and build-out costs for refrigeration

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $40,000 to $200,000, depending on store size, how much stock you buy, refrigeration and build-out, and your lease terms. Starting with a modest product range can help limit spoilage and tied-up cash.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $15,000 to $75,000, depending on location, product range and how many customers you attract. Margins can be thin and fresh or frozen items can spoil, so revenue is not the same as profit.

Things to check include retail food permits with your county health department (especially for fresh meat, fish, produce or prepared food), state sales tax registration with a resale certificate, FDA labeling rules for imported products, and insurance.