Local game store with trade-ins and game nights

Hobbyists, parents and families, teens, collectors and local gaming groups.

Retail margins on new items, higher margins on used games and trade-ins, plus event entry fees, table fees and snack or accessory sales.

• Knowing games and what collectors want
• Basic bookkeeping and stock control
• Welcoming people and running events

• Check your state's sales tax registration and any resale certificate rules
• Check whether your city or county requires a business license and whether the unit's zoning allows retail
• Used-game and trade-in rules: some states and cities require secondhand dealer registration or records, so check locally
• Lease terms, deposits and a long commitment before sales are proven
• Dead stock: new releases and collectibles can lose value, so buy carefully
• General liability and property insurance, and workers' compensation insurance once you hire

Startup costs are typically around $25,000 to $100,000, depending on premises, stock and fit-out. These are estimates, and new releases and collectibles can lose value, so buy stock carefully.

Monthly revenue is typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on location, stock mix and how well you run events. These are estimates, and the business typically needs at least 40 hours a week.

Check your state's sales tax registration and resale certificate rules, plus whether your city or county requires a business license and the zoning allows retail. Also check whether secondhand dealer registration or records apply to used-game trade-ins.