Local baseball and softball shop

Parents of youth players, high school and travel teams, coaches, leagues and adult players.

Retail markup on gear and apparel, plus services such as glove repair and relacing, team uniform and order sales, and seasonal sales events.

• Deep knowledge of baseball gear
• Retail and customer service
• Buying and managing inventory
• Building ties with local leagues and coaches

• Sales are very seasonal, so plan cash for the slow winter months
• Competition from big-box stores and online sellers, so a local niche matters
• Lease terms, build-out costs and the cost of carrying inventory
• Sales tax permit, business license and zoning rules differ by city and state
• General liability, property and product liability insurance, plus workers' compensation if you hire
• Brand dealer agreements may have minimum order and pricing rules

Startup costs are typically around $30,000 to $120,000, depending on your lease, build-out and how much inventory you carry. These are estimates, so check local rents and brand order minimums before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on your location, range and ties with local leagues. This is an estimate of revenue, not profit, and sales are seasonal, so plan cash for slow winter months.

Check your sales tax permit, business license and zoning rules, which differ by city and state. Also review lease terms and build-out costs, brand dealer agreements with minimum order and pricing rules, and liability, property and product insurance.