The Ultimate Guide to Opening your own Shop

Kingburger · 1 Jul 2007 at 21:35

After searching the forum and finding posts with people asking to start their own business, there isn't actually info on how to start one. I have searched the net and all I see is make a business plan and go to your bank manager. So I have started this thread for people to input and make this guide the best. I am thinking of opening a sandwich shop. In my mind this is what I need to do. I have already agreed a lease on a shop at £175 per week for 3 years.

0. Research the local market

1. Buy an off the shelf limited liability company from the net and call it Sandwich company for example. Have a word with a solicitor as well.

2. Go to the bank manager to present a business plan, and open a business bank account - preferably a free one?

3. Apply for planning permission to put my company name (Sandwich company) on the front of the shop - any ideas how long this takes? Also apply for change of use if using the shop for a different purpose than what it used to be?

4. Qualify in a Health and hygiene certificate - any cheap online courses anyone has been on or can recommend? Get a food and beverage license.

5. Take out public and employee liability insurance in the event of anyone complaining about food poisioning - recommendations? The EHO would also have to investigate the premises to allow you to serve food.

6. Buy stock from a wholesaler and buy equipment with long guarantees.

7. Advertise - get your self onto the mailing list for hospitality / catering events as these are useful for your business as you can meet loads of suppliers in one go. There is a sandwich show once a year

8. Start trading i.e. selling sandwiches and keeping the upkeep on any bills e.g. electricity

9. Talk to accountant, get some book keeping software and register for VAT if over the profits threshold. If employing people, you need to register with HM Revenue and Customs.

10. cancel all social events, pub crawls etc for the forseeable future as you're going to be knackered

Have I missed out anything, or is it as simple as that?

seaviewuk · 1 Jul 2007 at 21:38

Health & Hygiene certificate

daveydave · 1 Jul 2007 at 21:39

you need to send away for articles of association and memorandums of association

Kingburger · 1 Jul 2007 at 21:41

david.n.c said:
you need to send away for articles of association and memorandums of association

Hmmm.. if you buy an off the shelf company, I'm sure this is not necessary. Also SeaviewUK, I will update the list.

Matthew-1985 · 1 Jul 2007 at 21:42

Don't forgot to buy some stock.

Kingburger · 1 Jul 2007 at 21:43

Matthew-1985 said:
Don't forgot to buy some stock.

Added

Glaucus · 1 Jul 2007 at 21:47

Kingburger said:
Added

if it is a sandwich shop, think carefully about *** type of people in the area and what time there around. This will heavily influence what your serve and when your open. sandwich shops can make a killing if you get *** food correct for the market in that area.

seaviewuk · 1 Jul 2007 at 21:47

I may be wrong but if the shop was previously say, a shoe shop, do you not have to get approved planning permission from the Council?

Premises change of use or something?

Kingburger · 1 Jul 2007 at 21:51

seaviewuk said:
I may be wrong but if the shop was previously say, a shoe shop, do you not have to get approved planning permission from the Council?

Premises change of use or something?

Will update Acidhelluk and Seaviewuk

Raymond Lin · 1 Jul 2007 at 21:55

sounds like you are going to be a sole trader. go see a solicitor and an accountant.

LizardKing · 1 Jul 2007 at 21:58

I think you need a food and beverage license, even if your not serving alcohol.
The EHO would also have to investigate the premises to allow you to serve food
Most colleges do the hygiene certificate course

seaviewuk · 1 Jul 2007 at 22:07

Employee liability insurance.

Tesla · 1 Jul 2007 at 22:16

What advantage does a sandwich shop have over a sandwich van?

I would have thought a van would be more profitable and you may be able to deliver loads of sandwiches to just a few locations (office blocks).

yermum · 1 Jul 2007 at 22:21

My beloved OH and I opened our shop (a deli, by the way) 12 weeks ago and this explains why this is my first post since forever.

Some points to add:

Make sure you get good equipment with guarantees so that stuff won't break down every 2 minutes.

Do market research - who you are planning to target, what you are planning to sell etc. Prets have a really good website with amny of their fillings listed.

Get some basic book keeping books or software. You could save yourself a lot of accountancy bills.

If you will be above the takings threshhold, you will need to register for VAT with HM Customs and Excise.

If you are going to emply people, you need to register with HM Revenue and Customs.

Get your self onto the mailing list for hospitality / catering events as these are useful for your business as you can meet loads of suppliers in one go. There is a sandwich show once a year

Lastly, cancel all social events, pub crawls etc for the forseeable future as you're going to be knackered.

Glaucus · 1 Jul 2007 at 22:22

Tesla said:
What advantage does a sandwich shop have over a sandwich van?

I would have thought a van would be more profitable and you may be able to deliver loads of sandwiches to just a few locations (office blocks).

reputation, vans are seen as cheap nasty places good for truckers and/or drunk people.

usually vans that deliver to offices are part of a shop.

Noxis · 1 Jul 2007 at 22:35

AcidHell2 said:
reputation, vans are seen as cheap nasty places good for truckers and/or drunk people.

usually vans that deliver to offices are part of a shop.

Maybe thats it. If you can start a chain of sandwich vans but in a upper class clean way... Rather than the traditional grotty food poisoning way. Clean, glass, modern van serving better than Subway class sandwiches..

manoz · 1 Jul 2007 at 22:52

What about advertising?

Kingburger · 1 Jul 2007 at 22:59

yermum said:
My beloved OH and I opened our shop (a deli, by the way) 12 weeks ago and this explains why this is my first post since forever.

Some points to add:

Make sure you get good equipment with guarantees so that stuff won't break down every 2 minutes.

Do market research - who you are planning to target, what you are planning to sell etc. Prets have a really good website with amny of their fillings listed.

Get some basic book keeping books or software. You could save yourself a lot of accountancy bills.

If you will be above the takings threshhold, you will need to register for VAT with HM Customs and Excise.

If you are going to emply people, you need to register with HM Revenue and Customs.

Get your self onto the mailing list for hospitality / catering events as these are useful for your business as you can meet loads of suppliers in one go. There is a sandwich show once a year

Lastly, cancel all social events, pub crawls etc for the forseeable future as you're going to be knackered.

Hey, thanks :eek:

Have you got a link for Prets, can't seem to find it on the net?

How long did it take you to set up, just out of interest?

benktlottie · 1 Jul 2007 at 23:16

Can you afford the £175 a week if you got bust, say after a year ? You'll be lumbered with 2 years more lease! Do not sign a 3 year contract unless youre 110% sure you will last the duration.

Also, have you ever prepared a business plan that a bank will take seriously? Dont take this the wrong way, youre seemingly full of confidence, but I sense that you think this is gonna be easy. How are you at marketing ? How are you at sales ? What if after 6 weeks, you dont make a profit, will you still be as motivated ? Do you have some money to fall back on or will your loans be guarenteed against your property ? Do you have a flyer that you will hand into every company within a 5 mile radius ?

Kingburger · 1 Jul 2007 at 23:31

benktlottie said:
Can you afford the £175 a week if you got bust, say after a year ? You'll be lumbered with 2 years more lease! Do not sign a 3 year contract unless youre 110% sure you will last the duration.

Also, have you ever prepared a business plan that a bank will take seriously? Dont take this the wrong way, youre seemingly full of confidence, but I sense that you think this is gonna be easy. How are you at marketing ? How are you at sales ? What if after 6 weeks, you dont make a profit, will you still be as motivated ? Do you have some money to fall back on or will your loans be guarenteed against your property ? Do you have a flyer that you will hand into every company within a 5 mile radius ?

You are quite right to be concerned, but I don't think I will not make a profit as I am not paying myself yet and have no staff, I will open day and night if necessary

A friend of mine does flyers and can whip them out in 24 hours and I will use Royal mail's marketing service to distribute locally. I have 5k total, if I go bust the lease guys will have to sue me coz they would not give me a lower term

I have no loans (yet

)