Neighborhood rice and grain shop

Households that cook with rice daily, immigrant and multicultural communities looking for specific varieties, and local restaurants and caterers.

Margin on each pound sold. Bulk sacks sell at a lower price per pound to restaurants and large families, while smaller packs and specialty varieties carry higher margins.

• Knowing rice varieties and how they are cooked
• Buying and managing stock
• Friendly customer service

• Check with your county health department whether you need a retail food permit, especially if you sell from bulk bins or repackage food
• Check city or county business license and zoning rules for your location
• General liability insurance and possibly product liability cover
• Pest control and storage, since grains attract insects and need dry, clean storage
• Sales tax registration with your state; check which food items are taxable

Estimates typically run around $18,000 to $90,000 to start, depending on your location, the size of the store, and how much stock and display equipment you buy at the outset.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on your location, the range of varieties you stock, and whether you sell to restaurants as well as households. The estimates assume at least 40 hours a week.

Check with your county health department whether you need a retail food permit, especially for bulk bins or repackaging. Also check city or county business license and zoning rules, state sales tax registration, insurance, and pest control and dry storage.