How to Start an Olive Oil Store

Olive oil stores stock a wide selection of hard-to-find premium olive oils, olive oil based products, and related gourmet products like spices, bottles of vinegar, and cured meat. Retailers often hold classes and tasting to educate their customers about the different types of olive oil available and how they can use the products at home.

You may also be interested in additional unique business ideas.

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 an olive oil store by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Olive Oil Store
  2. Form your Olive Oil Store into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Olive Oil Store for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Olive Oil Store
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Olive Oil Store
  7. Get Olive Oil Store Insurance
  8. Define your Olive Oil Store Brand
  9. Create your Olive Oil Store Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your olive oil 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:

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 Olive Oil 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 olive oil store?

Opening an olive oil store is a significant investment. While it is possible to attempt to open an olive oil store on the cheap, starting with a proper budget provides a better chance of success.

Most of the startup capital will go toward securing a location, fitting out the store, staffing, and training.

Location – Although it is unnecessary to rent a large space to have a successful store, most stores in this industry are under 1000 square feet, a good location is critical. The best locations have a large amount of targeted foot traffic. It does no good to have lots of people walking by a store if they are not the kind of people who have an interest in specialty foods.

Two of the best areas to set up a shop are close to other high-end food shops or in an area popular with tourists. Both locations attract the right sort of shoppers who have both the time to shop and the money to buy premium products. Rents in these popular areas are regularly higher than in other locations.

Fitting the Store – Furnishing and stocking a store costs money. While it is easy to go overboard on either decorations or products, there is no need. A small well-chosen and rotating stock ensures freshness and keeps costs down.

Labor and training – Well-trained employees are the cornerstone of a successful olive oil store. Skimping on training is a mistake. Don’t do it.

What are the ongoing expenses for an olive oil store?

Ongoing expenses include rent, stock, training, utilities, and labor.

Who is the target market?

Customers who shop in olive oil stores are normally older, well-off, and looking for something different from what is available at the local specialty grocery stores. The best customers are those who are willing to pay a higher price for a natural and unique product once they understand why that product is superior to all others. Customers at olive oil stores often consider themselves gourmands and appreciate the ability to learn about the products they use.

How does an olive oil store make money?

Olive oil stores make the majority of their income through in-person sales of products at their retail locations. A few stores offer online sales. Many stores do charge for tastings and classes and this income can account for a moderate percentage of a shop’s revenue.

How much can you charge customers?

Premium olive oil can cost much more than you think, but the price olive oil stores can get away with charging their customers depends on the market. Generally, olive oil shops charge more for olive oil than other specialty stores do — and customers will pay when a store provides a good experience.

How much profit can an olive oil store make?

Most olive oil stores make between 10 to 15 percent profit based on total product sales. The profit margin for workshops and classes are much greater.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Most olive oil stores increase their profitability by selling balsamic vinegar, olive oil soap, containers, and other food-related specialty products.

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 olive oil 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 olive oil 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.

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.

FORM YOUR LLC

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:

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 an olive oil business. 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 olive oil store is usually 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 olive oil store:
    • 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 olive oil business.
    • 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 an olive oil store:
    • 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 olive oil business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

Health Regulations

If you plan to sell food at your Olive Oil business, 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 inspection can be found here.

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 Olive Oil Store needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Olive Oil 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 olive oil store

The approach to promotion and marketing of an olive oil store depends on the store’s target customers and its location. Stores which cater to tourists should focus on advertising online and attending local events aimed at tourism. Stores with predominantly local residents as customers can focus on creating goodwill and word-of-mouth advertising through newsletters, conducting free tastings, and offering classes.

How to keep customers coming back

The uniqueness of an olive oil store may attract customers to come in once, but to get them to return, stores need to provide a great product, fantastic service, and a good value. A knowledgeable and friendly staff is critical to a store’s success, so owners should be open to investing in the training of employees. It is also important that stores constantly update the products they carry to find which sell the best.

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: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, 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?

Foremost, an olive oil store is like any other retail store. A potential owner needs to have a background in managing a retail operation. Due to the business’ tiny niche, a new owner should also have extensive knowledge about olive oil and olive oil-related products, besides a real passion for the products.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at an olive oil store?

Besides handling the normal daily operations associated with all shops, including ordering, receiving, stocking, selling, and bookkeeping, owners of olive oil shops have several unique day-to-day responsibilities. Education plays a huge role in creating a profitable olive oil retail business. This means owners need the ability to train their staff effectively and to teach new and existing customers about a store’s complete product line.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful olive oil store?

Besides retailing skills, an owner of an olive oil store needs to have extensive knowledge about their store’s products in addition to knowledge about olive oil in general. Owners who have experience teaching and cooking will have an advantage when holding classes and tastings or demonstrating how to cook using olive oil. Some local municipalities may require food safety certification, so earning a ServSafe certificate or other food handling certificate may be beneficial.

What is the growth potential for an olive oil store?

Although the popularity of olive oil shops in the US has wavered somewhat over the past few years, the sale numbers for premium olive oil are still strong. One of the largest barriers to the continued popularity of this type of business comes from the potential for local or national bans on “fill-your-own” olive oil stores similar to the ban enacted in Britain in 2014. Industry insiders predict that as more Americans become more aware of the superiority of artisan olive oil, sales will bounce back.

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 olive oil store?

An owner needs to learn as much as he can before opening a store. Owners who are not confident in their knowledge of olive oil can get a head start by enrolling in a course. The Olive Oil School offers several classes which are worth investigating. Those entirely new to retail sales will tremendously benefit by partnering with a company which offer mentoring and franchising opportunities.

How and when to build a team

Owners should start building a solid team of trained employees from Day 1 through on-the-job training and off-site education.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading