Neighborhood wine shop with a storage cellar

Local wine drinkers, gift buyers, collectors needing proper storage, and nearby restaurants and bars (where your license allows).

Margin on bottle sales, plus monthly or annual storage fees per case or locker. Tastings and events can add some extra income.

• Knowing wine and being able to explain it simply
• Retail and inventory management
• Building relationships with customers and restaurants

• State and local alcohol licensing, which varies widely; some areas cap the number of licenses or take months to approve them
• Most states require retailers to buy from licensed distributors, so check what you can and can't source directly
• Check whether your state allows you to store wine you don't own for customers, and whether that needs a separate permit
• Rules on sales to restaurants, delivery and shipping differ by state, so check before promising them
• General liability, property and liquor liability insurance, plus a plan for cellar temperature failures
• Sales tax registration and strict age-check procedures

Startup costs are typically around $60,000 to $250,000, depending on location, fit-out, cellar temperature control and opening stock. Costs vary with the size of the premises and the range of wines you carry.

Check state and local alcohol licensing, which varies widely; some areas cap licenses or take months to approve them. Also check which distributors you must buy from, and whether storing customers' wine needs a separate permit.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $15,000 to $70,000, depending on location, stock range, cellar rentals and any restaurant sales your license allows. This is revenue, not profit, and you would typically work at least 40 hours a week.