How to Open a Toy Store

Toy store businesses can be very general, offering a wide variety of toys, or very particular, specializing in niche products. It is possible to operate this business out of a physical location, or to operate entirely online. Regardless of your unique approach to the market, starting your own toy store requires a considerable amount of start up capital to acquire your merchandise.

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 toy store by following these 10 steps:

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

We have put together this simple guide to starting your toy 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 Toy 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 a toy store?

The exact costs of opening your toy store business will depend on location, amongst other factors. For instance, certain locations are more expensive to rent, as is more space, but it is important to open close enough to residential areas and other shopping centers in order to naturally attract your primary demographic. One toy store owner had to spend almost $5,000 on rent and utilities for the first month of business, and this included the monthly rent ($1,877), a security deposit (also $1,877), separate security deposit for utilities ($300), and her share of the operating expenses and property tax of the shopping center she opened in ($835).

The space itself needed work, and she spent nearly $8,000 to customize the space to her needs, acquire necessary fixtures, and hire a local handyman. Perhaps the biggest cost, though, is also the biggest question mark: the cost to purchase the products themselves. For instance, this same toy store owner had enough product she had accumulated over the years and began by selling that, which meant she initially spent nothing. Most people, though, must buy hundreds of toys to initially stock their shelves, and even at wholesale prices, the cost of this is significant. Because of this, some owners have taken to importing toys from places where it is cheaper, such as China, though you must be mindful of the possibility of being sold “knock-off” toys. Other owners become part of toy buying groups—which allow smaller retailers to pool together to buy toys at wholesale price and split the product—in order to buy toys in the kind of bulk that smaller stores normally cannot, which helps drive the purchasing prices lower.

What are the ongoing expenses for a toy store?

There are a variety of ongoing toy store expenses. Monthly rent is a factor (likely to be $1,500 or greater), telephone and other utilities (which also may be around $1,500), and business insurance ($600 or more). Don’t forget advertisement costs (around $1,000), and any additional decoration/new signage costs (under $1,000). Finally, you must budget for how much to pay employees, which will depend on how many employees you have and what you want their wage to be.

Who is the target market?

Some of the best clients for toy stores are the parents of younger children. Such children are at an age where they are very susceptible to advertising and marketing, and their constantly-changing tastes mean they often want new toys. Depending on the business, though, your ideal customers may change: a niche store focusing on collector’s items or retro toys will likely focus on customers in their 30’s, while a store that heavily sells games and gaming supplies (such as Magic: The Gathering) will likely focus on customers in their late teens and early 20s.

How does a toy store make money?

The most basic way that a toy store makes money is, of course, by selling toys and receiving some profit from every toy that is sold. One hurdle that small toy store owners must face is that it is completely impossible for them to compete with the mass market brick-and-mortar stores like Wal-Mart or Toys-R-Us or online juggernauts like Amazon.com and because of this, it’s important to focus on personalized service and attention for customers. Some toy store owners have taken to personally delivering toys to homes or offering free storage or layaway plans that many bigger stores are unwilling to offer.

How much can you charge customers?

Unlike other businesses, the amount for how much you can charge customers is relatively fixed by the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of the products you sell. While you can sell products for more than this amount, remember that you are in constant competition with major stores both online and offline, so driving prices beyond MSRP may drive people away. You can supplement your in-store toys by possibly selling certain things on eBay, where an in-demand toys may sell for far more than its standard MSRP.

How much profit can a toy store make?

The overall profit of the toy industry has been variable in recent years. It seemed to peak in 2015 at 4.5 percent, but 2016 is looking exactly like 2012 did at 2.8 percent. With that being said, much of this is determined by the different big box stores competing with one another as well as competing with the online world, and opening a local retail store with ties to the community can help you build a steady stable of regular customers.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Some of the ways to make your business more profitable have been discussed, including holding gaming tournaments and selling online. If you sell games like Magic: The Gathering, you may also branch into selling single cards to eager customers, some of which are worth a great deal. You can also work on mastering exactly how much product to order each month so that you do not have an excess of product that doesn’t sell. Handling as much of the business yourself (from stocking and selling to cleaning) can also cut down on costs, thus increasing your profits.

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 toy 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 toy 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 a toy 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

A toy 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 a toy 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 toy store 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 Toy Store needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Toy 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 a toy store

Some of the ways to market and promote toy businesses include usual methods, such as advertising through newspapers, radio, and television ads. It’s also important to have a social media presence, such as a Facebook page, where customers can see your hours, news about new toys, and information about any deals or specials. You should also have a separate web page that provides additional information and allows customers to leave reviews, which serves as its own form of advertisement when prospective customers can see how much others enjoyed shopping there. One unexpected way to market your business is to sell products via eBay and Amazon. This not only serves as a good sideline business, but helps advertise your business to customers that like to shop online.

How to keep customers coming back

Some of the ways to attract and retain customers were mentioned above, including offering home delivery and toy storage (great for parents who don’t want to worry about hiding toys for upcoming birthdays or Christmas). You should also hold regular events at your store if you have space, such as tournaments for popular games like Pokemon. This encourages customers to regularly visit, and you can make the tournament entry fee something like “buy two packs of cards,” which may encourage them to buy more while they are there. If you sell video games, you may also consider hosting video game tournaments. These are both methods of encouraging regular customers to show up every week while they publicly demonstrate the fun of something you sell. Traditional promotions also work, such as offering special promotions tied to other events (like discounts and specials on Marvel or Star Wars toys on the eve of their next movie) is good.

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?

First and foremost, this job is for those who love toys. Someone who already collects and sometimes re-sells toys will have an edge over someone completely unfamiliar with this market. Similarly, the ability to research the toy market and network with others that do so allows you to get the inside track on what will be the latest upcoming toys. Having ties to the community can also help you advertise your business, especially if you plan on having any special events in order to help your business stand out from larger retailers. Finally, this is a job for the consummate “people person,” as it involves both understanding what children want and what their parents want and figuring out how to accommodate both demographics.

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 a toy store?

The day starts early for toy store owners. While most such businesses operate during normal business hours, you must show up early to ensure that the store looks clean, organized, and otherwise presentable. Much of each day is spent balancing accounts and managing your money, including being ready for boom seasons such as Christmas. Ideally, much of your time will be spent helping your customers find the perfect toy they are looking for (and sometimes the perfect toy they didn’t know they needed). Along with busy days, you will likely be patrolling the aisles and cleaning them throughout the day, as kids often take things down and don’t put them back up. Finally, most days will be spent ordering stock for your store and keeping abreast of industry trends so that you know what to order (and how much).

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

There are a variety of skills that may help you open a toy store business. As mentioned above, having personal experience as a toy collector and enthusiast can help you gain a competitive edge in figuring out what to order and how to market and sell it. Having previous experience working in a toy store, especially in a management capacity, will help you understand the daily activities of the business quite well. A professional degree in something like Business or even Hospitality Management can help you master required skills such as accounting and customer service.

What is the growth potential for a toy store?

The growth potential for a toy store business is respectable. Research published in 2016 found that domestic toy sales had increased by seven percent since 2014. The same report found that the overall toy industry has become a $25 billion dollar industry in America, making it a healthy market to enter into (albeit one that may become more competitive over time).

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.

How and when to build a team

At the end of the day, a toy store is like any other retail business. You should develop an idea early on for how many employees you need to cover your hours. Thus, building the team is usually tied to either expanding your hours or services. Examples of this include staying open later for Christmas (and hiring more people for the Christmas rush) or hiring dedicated employees to do things like toy delivery or other “extra” services meant to retain customer loyalty.

Read our toy store hiring guide to learn about the different roles a toy store 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

Further Reading