Neighborhood chinese grocery store

Local Chinese and wider Asian families, students, home cooks and restaurant owners who want authentic ingredients close to home.

Markup on products you buy from wholesalers and importers. Fast-selling staples and fresh produce bring people back each week, and higher-margin snacks and housewares add to the basket.

• Knowledge of Chinese ingredients and brands
• Ordering and stock control
• Customer service, ideally in Mandarin or Cantonese and English

• Health department permit for selling packaged, refrigerated or frozen food, and extra rules for fresh meat, seafood or prepared items. Check with your county.
• State sales tax registration and a seller's permit, since some groceries are taxed and some are not
• Imported products must have English labels that meet FDA rules. Check with your supplier.
• Spoilage on fresh produce and frozen stock, plus thin margins and high rent in some areas
• General liability and property insurance, and workers' compensation once you hire staff

Startup costs are typically around $60,000 to $250,000, depending on store size, location, fit-out and opening stock. Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $40,000 to $150,000, depending on location and customer base.

Things to check include a health department permit for packaged, refrigerated or frozen food, with extra rules for fresh meat, seafood or prepared items. Also check state sales tax registration, a seller's permit, and FDA-compliant English labels on imports with your supplier.

The estimate is at least 40 hours a week. Useful skills include knowledge of Chinese ingredients and brands, ordering and stock control, and customer service, ideally in Mandarin or Cantonese as well as English.