International food stores, also called international grocery stores, are stores which offer imported food. This imported food ranges across many countries, different nationalities, and dish types. International food stores usually stock food, drinks, alcohol, candy and condiments. Some international food stores also stock international commodities, like toys and kitchen instruments.
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Start an international food store by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your International Food Store
- Form your International Food Store into a Legal Entity
- Register your International Food Store for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your International Food Store
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your International Food Store
- Get International Food Store Insurance
- Define your International Food Store Brand
- Create your International Food Store Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your international food store. 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 International Food Store 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 an international food store?
Pre-opening expenses are often $70,000 or more. The costs include insurance, equipment sourcing, food sourcing, utility start-up costs and employee hiring fees. Before assuming control of your store’s operations, consider investing as much as $200,000.
Opening an international food store can be expensive, mostly because the food must be sourced overseas. Some international grocery stores can, however, find domestic bulk providers for international food.
What are the ongoing expenses for an international food store?
Ongoing expenses vary from store to store. Rent is normally $3,000 to $4,000 per month for a medium to large-sized shop. Meanwhile, monthly utilities can be about $700 for continuous use. Employees should be paid between $8 and $15 per hour.
Who is the target market?
As with any grocery store, the best clients are those who’re noninvasive. Ideal clients will have a love for international food, and they’ll return for new, exotic tastes. Because international food stores tend to be niche, they’re usually favored by food connoisseurs.
Sometimes, ethnic customers are useful advocates and knowledgeable resources. Since an international food store’s popularity is determined by its authenticity, these customers can be useful. An international food store owner needs to have a lot of knowledge about the best-tasting foods in order to provide customers with the most delicious, most authentic products.
How does an international food store make money?
International food stores make money by selling international foods, pre-cooked dishes, deserts, candy, drinks, alcohol, and other items. Some international food stores have cafes, and others may have fresh food restaurants inside. An international food store needs to be the “one-stop-shop” of its area to be successful. For this reason, a lot of international food stores offer all the services a grocery store would have while also offering food that cannot be found at other local grocery stores.
How much can you charge customers?
Food prices vary greatly. Customers can be charged as little as $0.99 for end-cap items. They can be charged as much as $50 for a nice bottle of wine. Research competitive food prices, and make your products attractive.
How much profit can an international food store make?
A successful international food store can make upwards of $500,000 per year. That said, profits are determined by a store’s ability to serve local markets.
How can you make your business more profitable?
Start by operating a small storefront. Become a mini-grocery, and stock novelty goods. By supplying coffee, books, candy, or alcohol, you can save costs while being a competitive store. Distribute food items other providers don’t have, and try to source as much local food as possible before relying on an overseas supplier.
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 international food store 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 international food store 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.
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Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our How to Start a Business guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best Business Formation 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.
Federal Business Licensing Requirements
There are federal regulations regarding what can and cannot be added to, sold as, and processed with food. Attached is a resource from the Food and Drug Administration detailing the process of starting a food business: How to Start a Food Business
State & Local Business Licensing Requirements
Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to open an international food store. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.
Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.
Certificate of Occupancy
An international food store is generally run out of a storefront. 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 an international food store.
- 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 a location:
- 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 international food store will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.
Food Regulations
When selling food, you will need licensing from a local health department; all establishments serving food are required to pass a health inspection. Tips for faring well on a health inspections
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 International Food Store needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for International Food Store.
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 an international food store
Promotion should take place on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Because an international food store has highly unique options, it normally promotes itself. As for marketing, it’s a good idea to promote your business to other small businesses.
Interestingly, marketing through nearby grocery stores can work. By helping grocery shoppers understand why your store is unique, you can “source” them without creating much competition. While grocery stores often have international food aisles, customers prefer entire international stores.
How to keep customers coming back
Enhance the shopping experience. Become the community’s grocer, and open niche services. Give customers a reason to return, like a fresh-baked pastry bakery, or cook for shoppers upon request. Invest in a wine and alcoholic beverage corner, and diversify your stock. If you’re competing against other international food stores, you should focus on highly unique engagement strategies.
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 international food business is perfect for any business person who loves exotic foods. The ideal international food store owner has a fine taste for salads, sandwiches, picnic lunches, specialty drinks, desserts, and cooked meals. Normally, an international food store owner is able to pinpoint the nationality of different foods. Deli-lovers, bakers, and café operators normally make good international food operators.
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What happens during a typical day at an international food store?
International food store owners research local shopping experiences. Then, they source and stock ethic foods. When running an international food store, owners need to make the food taste as authentic as possible. Some feature recipes for visitors to try.
Other responsibilities include grocery store upkeep. Utilities need to be managed, and food needs to be restocked. Because international food needs to be sourced overseas, a lot of international food store operators need to be well-adjusted to shipping, competitive pricing, and international buying plans.
On the administrative end, international food store owners need to conduct sales, manage employees, and create marketing campaigns. Typical grocery store responsibilities apply, like cleaning, conducting maintenance, and handling rent.
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful international food store?
The most successful international food stores have great pricing strategies. They also prioritize the customer service experience. A good international food store will encourage communication between staff and shoppers.
As an international food store owner, you’ll need to source international foods effectively. It can take years to secure the best food sources, and it can take longer to price them competitively. Provide customers with high-quality products, and make them affordable. A good international food store avoids the “department store” feel, focusing on specialized customer experiences. The more personal an international food store feels, the better.
What is the growth potential for an international food store?
Most international food stores are locally owned. For this reason, most of them never reach cross-country popularity. While it’s possible to become a state-wide international food store provider, many are city favorites. This isn’t bad, however, as an area’s best international food store is normally a customer favorite. If your international food store can deliver top of the line products to a lot of people, it can achieve a lot of success.
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 an international food store?
While international grocery store startup costs are big, it’s a good idea to keep your investments as low as possible. Independent international grocery stores can be risky, and sourcing costs can get out of hand.
Thrill customers with high-quality products, and offer affordable prices. Focus on your pricing strategy, and make your international food options as authentic as possible. Give customers the ability to get all of their international food in one place. When starting, stock a bit of everything. Don’t worry about highly unique food items. Instead, focus on general food items first.
How and when to build a team
You should build a team immediately. While small international food stores can be operated by one person, many have at least three employees. You’ll need to spend your time marketing, sourcing food, and strategizing your pricing plan. Meanwhile, your employees should be working on in-store operations. They’ll need to talk to customers, handle clean-ups, and conduct maintenance.