Neighborhood bagel shop

Commuters, office workers, local families, and nearby offices that order bagels by the dozen for meetings.

Sales per bagel, per dozen and per sandwich, plus coffee and drinks. Catering trays for offices and weekend brunch orders add larger tickets.

• Baking or willingness to learn bagel making
• Early mornings and long standing shifts
• Cost control and inventory ordering
• Friendly, fast customer service

• Health department permit and inspection, plus a food manager or food handler certification in many places
• Zoning and build-out rules for food premises, check with your city or county before signing a lease
• General liability insurance, and workers' compensation once you hire staff
• Thin margins from rent, labor and ingredient costs, so test the numbers before committing to a lease
• Sales tax registration with your state, since rules on prepared food vary

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $60,000 to $250,000, depending on your location, build-out, equipment, lease and opening stock. Test the numbers on rent, labor and ingredients before committing to a lease.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on location, opening hours, menu and how many office orders you win. Margins can be thin, so check rent, labor and ingredient costs.

Check health department permit and inspection requirements, plus food manager or handler certification where it applies. Also review zoning and build-out rules with your city or county before signing a lease, insurance, and sales tax registration.