For a time, it looked like non-chain bookstores were dead. Electronic reading devices put e-books near at hand, even the big-box retailers went out of business or scaled back their venture, and Amazon gobbled up the lion’s share of the reading public. Then smaller, independent bookstores closed shop one after another.
But all of that’s changed as avid readers have gone too long without access to brick and mortar bookstores, craving to get their hands on the print version of their favorite titles. Indie bookstores are opening up or regaining new popularity across America. In addition, the “buy local” movement has brought new energy to the little bookstore down the street. This article showcases some of the industry’s new dynamics.
Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.
Northwest ($29 + State Fees)
DIY: How to Start an LLC
Start a bookstore by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Bookstore
- Form your Bookstore into a Legal Entity
- Register your Bookstore for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Bookstore
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Bookstore
- Get Bookstore Insurance
- Define your Bookstore Brand
- Create your Bookstore Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your bookstore. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.
Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.
STEP 1: Plan your business
A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:
- What will you name your business?
- What are the startup and ongoing costs?
- Who is your target market?
- How much can you charge customers?
Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.
What will you name your business?
Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Bookstore Name Generator
If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.
When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:
- Your state’s business records
- Federal and state trademark records
- Social media platforms
- Web domain availability
It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.
What are the costs involved in opening a bookstore?
Your startup costs will be highly variable based on your location, square footage, local labor costs, buildout expenses, and many other factors.
- First month’s rent and utilities – $2,000
- Fixtures – $4,000
- Inventory control system – $7,500
- External and internal signage and furnishings – $5,500
- Logo and business cards – $600
- Buildout – $500
- Grand opening promotion – $1,000
- One month’s operating expenses – $3,500
This might only serve as rough guidance in your case, since your rent and initial inventory costs might be much higher. But it does give you an idea of some of the costs you’ll have to consider. Also, how long can you go without paying yourself a salary? Finally, consider ancillary costs if you’re going to sell coffee, postcards, t-shirts, or other items.
This might only serve as rough guidance in your case, since your rent and initial inventory and other costs might be much higher. But it does give an idea of some of the cost items you’ll have to think about. Also, how long can you go without paying yourself a salary? Take that into consideration as well. Also, consider ancillary costs if you’re going to sell coffee, postcards, t-shirts or other items.
As with any kind of business, you must start by writing a realistic business plan. Then look at your per-unit profit margin and estimate how many books you’ll have to sell every day to break even. Does that number seem realistic? Ask yourself hard questions like that.
Read our bookstore purchasing guide to learn about the materials and equipment you’ll need to start a bookstore, how much to budget, and where to make purchases.
What are the ongoing expenses for a bookstore?
Rent and inventory will be your two largest ongoing expenses. Rent is, of course, easy to estimate, but your inventory levels will vary depending on sales. Employee costs can also be high if you’ve hired staff, so make sure you don’t take on that investment until you must.
Who is the target market?
Your market niche will define your audience. For example, children’s literature appeals to parents, travel writing draws in readers with wanderlust, etc. Regardless of theme, your customers will be eager readers, or at least curious enough to want to know about your topic of choice. If you’ve chosen your primary genre wisely, it’s an area you know much about, so you’ll probably have an innate understanding of your audience and their preferences.
How does a bookstore make money?
Publishers will typically grant small retailers a 40% discount on their books’ cover prices, so that’s your maximum profit margin on new releases. If you buy and sell used books, you might have much higher margins. Perhaps you’ll buy a paperback in decent shape for fifty cents and sell it for $2.50. It’s also possible to buy large collections of books on eBay, Amazon, or other sites at a low per-unit cost for resale.
In addition to books, you might sell additional items that at least loosely tie in with your bookstore theme. This might be coffee, postcards, stationery, music, posters, mugs or muffins—whatever might fit your space and your customers’ tastes at a reasonable profit margin.
How much can you charge customers?
You won’t have anywhere near the buying power of Amazon or the large national chains, so you can’t expect to be able to compete on price. Book publishers put the suggested retail price on their books, so you can’t exceed that figure (and you wouldn’t have any customers if you tried).
You’ll have more leeway if you’re running a used bookstore. Consider pricing your inventory at about half of a book’s cover price, with discounts for multiple purchases. Most of your customers read a lot, so quality and quantity are of equal importance.
How much profit can a bookstore make?
Your profit margin, if you’re selling new books, should be in the 40% range.
How can you make your business more profitable?
Research ancillary services that can add value for your clientele, and consider expanding your business into the digital world. Make your website an ecommerce site, and encourage online orders. Some successful indie bookstores expect that online purchases will make up nearly 30% of their annual sales in the coming years.
Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!
STEP 2: Form a legal entity
One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your bookstore is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.
This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.
In practice, this means that if your bookstore were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.
More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.
Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).
STEP 3: Register for taxes
You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.
In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!
You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?
There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.
STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.
When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.
Open a business bank account
Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:
- Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
- Makes accounting and tax filing easier.
Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.
Get a business credit card
Getting a business credit card helps you:
- Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business’ expenses all in one place.
- Build your company’s credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.
Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.
STEP 5: Set up business accounting
Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.
Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.
STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses
Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.
State & Local Business Licensing Requirements
Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a bookstore business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.
Certificate of Occupancy
A bookstore is generally run out of a small retail location. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.
- If you plan to lease a location:
- It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
- Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a bookstore.
- After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
- If you plan to purchase or build your bookstore:
- You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
- Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your bookstore will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.
STEP 7: Get business insurance
Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.
There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.
Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.
Find out what types of insurance your Bookstore needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Bookstore.
STEP 8: Define your brand
Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.
If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.
How to promote & market a bookstore
Regardless of your store’s primary focus, the prospective customers for any bookstore like to read. If you connect with them on social media, they’ll be motivated to read about your store, and to interact with you as the proprietor.
Also, after the near-death of bookstores, the launch of a new one is still newsworthy in many communities. If that’s the case in your locale, it should be easy to get media coverage. Then you can link your social media to this valuable free publicity to maximize its value.
Find a graphic designer to make an attractive logo, and invest in signage. If you’ve chosen your storefront location well, your signs and welcoming interior will encourage foot traffic.
How to keep customers coming back
Engage with your readers. Let them see that your store is a place where book talk is welcome, and that you share their passion for reading. If you have a café, or host book club gatherings, this can create additional opportunities to draw like-minded customers through your doors.
Make sure your store has a Facebook page, and connect through other forms of social media as well. Include photos of your store’s interior and exterior, and shelves full of books. Discuss books and authors on your social media, rather than just endlessly self-promoting. Throw out questions, and involve yourself in your readers’ topics.
Consider sending out a monthly newsletter, with book trivia, author profiles, coming releases and other news of interest. Remember—these people love to read.
STEP 9: Create your business website
After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.
While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.
Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:
- All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
- Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
- Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.
Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.
Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.
STEP 10: Set up your business phone system
Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.
There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.
Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com
Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.
Is this Business Right For You?
The ideal bookstore owner has a skill set that includes enthusiasm for books and reading, retail sales, customer service, and business excellence. Since book lovers tend to enjoy their privacy, and those who are good at sales are often more outgoing and eager to meet the public, you must be adept at what many would consider to be clashing personal characteristics. Do your unique skills strike this balance? Can you create not just a store, but a community of customers who share your passion for books and reading? This is your challenge.
Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?
Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!
What happens during a typical day at a bookstore?
- Reading book industry publications such as Publishers Weekly and Book Business to stay abreast of upcoming releases and industry trends.
- Interacting with social media to communicate with followers, and mentioning new product offerings, sales events, and upcoming author signings.
- Opening your store, meeting customers, and keeping shelves tidy and properly organized.
- Scheduling staff work shifts, if you have employees.
- Ordering new releases (or buy from your public if you’re a used book retailer).
- Communicating with authors, musicians, or others who schedule visits.
- Planning new promotions.
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful bookstore?
Start by giving very careful attention to your market niche. If you choose to be a generalist who carries “everything,” you’ll be placing yourself in direct competition with the likes of Barnes & Noble and Amazon. How savvy does that sound?
Filling a niche also has the advantage of allowing you to go deeply into your genre or area of specialty, without having to spend beyond your means with startup inventory. In other words, you might not have to invest too heavily in order to fill your shelves with every book you can find on travel writing, whereas if you were trying to comprehensively carry 20 different areas of interest, your startup costs could be exorbitant.
This niche strategy will also help you quickly identify and attract your readers. If, for instance, you own the only science fiction and fantasy bookstore in half your state, you might draw at least an occasion visit (or more frequent online business) from sci-fi fans hundreds of miles away.
Get to know your customers, solicit contact information, and draw them to your social media presence. When they visit your store, they should find it to be a source of the kind of book talk they can’t get from a virtual vendor such as Amazon. Build your community of readers, and invite them to experience author readings, signings, and other events. Maybe you’ll even have acoustic musicians performing while customers browse. In short, you must be creative enough to figure out how to draw people into your store, and sharp enough as a marketer to give them reasons to keep coming back.
What is the growth potential for a bookstore?
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, bookstore sales increased 2.5% between 2014 and 2015. That might not seem like a dramatic increase, but considering the long downward trend that had seemingly consumed the industry, the year-to-year growth rate is promising.
Your single-store sales might be limited by floor space, but you might also increase revenue through your ancillary product sales. Physical growth can come from expansion of your existing space into adjoining territory, or even an additional location if your business continues to thrive.
Take the Next Step
Find a business mentor
One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.
Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.
Learn from other business owners
Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.
Resources to Help Women in Business
There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:
- Funding
- Events
- Guides
- Support
If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.
What are some insider tips for jump starting a bookstore?
In this Denver Post article, Nicole Sullivan, owner of independent bookstore BookBar, credits her success with building a “hybrid business.” BookBar also includes a wine bar and coffee shop and conducts such events as happy hour and book socials to give her customers a leisurely social experience.
If you can add ancillary products or services that complement your core business, it can provide you with new income streams. In fact, your ancillary business might even do better than the book business, or at the very least it can provide cash flow while your bookstore’s reputation gets established within your community.
How and when to build a team
When you have the need (and the financial resources) to add employees, make sure you grow a workforce with a passion about reading that matches your own. With that in mind, consider hiring college students studying literature, English, creative writing, or similar pursuits. During the interview, ask them about their reading habits. What kinds of books do they typically read? Who are some favorite authors?
Start with part-time employment because that’s likely to be all you can afford at first. If you have two or three part-time staff members, it will give you scheduling flexibility and reduce the need to provide group health care coverage—which would be one of your steepest overhead costs.
Read our bookstore hiring guide to learn about the different roles a bookstore typically fills, how much to budget for employee salaries, and how to build your team exactly how you want it.
Useful Links
TRUiC Resources
Industry Opportunities
Real World Examples
- Experience of a bookstore owner
- Experience of bookstore owners
- Experience of bookstore owners #2
- Article on owning an independent bookstore
Further Reading
- Opening a bookstore kit
- Tips for opening a bookstore
- Trends and predictions for the bookstore industry