Neighborhood battery store

Drivers with a dead battery, households, and local trade buyers such as small contractors, landscapers, security installers and repair shops.

Markup on each battery sold, plus fitting or testing fees and repeat orders from trade accounts. Used battery returns can bring customers back.

• Customer service
• Basic product knowledge of battery types
• Inventory ordering and stock control

• Local business license and state sales tax registration, check with your city, county and state revenue department
• Rules on selling and taking back used lead-acid batteries, which vary by state, so check with your state environmental agency
• Safe storage of lithium and lead-acid stock, and what your insurer and local fire code require
• General liability and product liability insurance
• Competition from big-box stores and online sellers, so plan for service and trade accounts, not only price

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $25,000 to $80,000, depending on your premises, the range of batteries you stock and your fit-out. Plan for service and trade accounts as well as price, since big-box and online sellers compete.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $12,000 to $50,000, depending on your location, stock mix and whether you win local trade accounts. The estimates assume at least about 40 hours a week.

Check with your city, county and state for a local business license and sales tax registration. Look into your state's rules on selling and taking back used lead-acid batteries, and check what your insurer and local fire code require for storing lithium and lead-acid stock.