Are you interested in starting your own convenience store Business?
Introduction
If you're thinking about starting a convenience store, there are a few things you need to know. Convenience stores are businesses that provide customers with easy access to essential goods and services. They are typically located in high-traffic areas, such as busy street corners or near public transportation. Convenience stores typically sell a variety of items, including food, drinks, snacks, cigarettes, and other everyday necessities. Many stores also offer other services, such as ATMs, money transfers, and bill payment. Starting a convenience store can be a great business opportunity. With the right location and product mix, you can build a successful business that meets the needs of your community.
Global Market Size
The global convenience store market is growing rapidly. In 2017, the market was valued at $1.1 trillion and is expected to reach $1.4 trillion by 2022. The convenience store industry is driven by the growing demand for on-the-go and quick access to food and beverages. The market is also driven by the growing demand for 24-hour convenience store operations. The Asia-Pacific region is the largest market for convenience stores, followed by North America and Europe. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growing population and the changing lifestyle of people in this region are the key factors driving the growth of the convenience store market in the Asia-Pacific region. Some of the key players operating in the global convenience store market are 7-Eleven, Inc., Lawson, Inc., FamilyMart Co., Ltd., Circle K Stores Inc., The Pantry, Inc., and AMPM.
Target Market
Your target market is the group of people most likely to buy from your convenience store. When considering your target market, think about who your ideal customer is.
Who lives near your store?
What do they do for a living?
What are their interests?
Once you have a good understanding of your target market, you can start to tailor your store to appeal to them. For example, if your target market is young families, you might want to carry items like diapers and baby formula. If your target market is college students, you might want to carry items like energy drinks and late-night snacks. No matter who your target market is, remember that convenience is key. Your store should be easy to find and easy to get in and out of. You should also make sure your shelves are well-stocked with the items your target market is looking for.
Business Model
There are a few different ways to go about starting a convenience store business. The first is to start from scratch, which involves finding a location, securing financing, and building or renovating a store. This is the most expensive and time-consuming option, but it also gives you the most control over your business. Another option is to buy an existing convenience store. This can be a less expensive and quicker way to get started, but you will have less control over the business. You will also need to be sure that the store you purchase is in good condition and is located in a good area. Finally, you could franchise a convenience store. This is the most expensive option, but it also gives you the most support from the franchisor. Franchised convenience stores are typically located in high-traffic areas and come with a built-in customer base. No matter which option you choose, there are a few things you will need to do to get your convenience store up and running. You will need to obtain a business license and permits, purchase insurance, and stock your shelves with merchandise. You will also need to hire employees and train them on how to run the store..
Competitive Landscape
The convenience store industry is one of the most competitive retail sectors. There are more than 154,000 convenience stores in the United States, which sell everything from groceries to gasoline. The top three convenience store chains in the United States are 7-Eleven, Speedway, and Circle K.
These chains have a combined total of more than 27,000 stores. The biggest challenge for new convenience store owners is to find a location that is not already served by one of the major chains. Another challenge is to offer a unique product or service that will attract customers. One way to stand out from the competition is to offer a loyalty program that rewards customers for their patronage. Another way to differentiate your store is to offer extended hours or 24-hour service.
Conclusion
Assuming you have followed all of the steps in this guide, by now you should have a pretty good idea of what it takes to start a convenience store business. Of course, there is always more to learn, but hopefully this guide has given you a good foundation on which to build. Best of luck in your new venture!
Why write a business plan?
A business plan is a critical tool for businesses and startups for a number of reasons:
Business Plans can help to articulate and flesh out the business’s goals and objectives. This can be beneficial not only for the business owner, but also for potential investors or partners
Business Plans can serve as a roadmap for the business, helping to keep it on track and on target. This is especially important for businesses that are growing and evolving, as it can be easy to get sidetracked without a clear plan in place.
Business plans can be a valuable tool for communicating the business’s vision to employees, customers, and other key stakeholders.
Business plans are one of the most affordable and straightforward ways of ensuring your business is successful.
Business plans allow you to understand your competition better to critically analyze your unique business proposition and differentiate yourself from the market.
Business Plans allow you to better understand your customer. Conducting a customer analysis is essential to create better products and services and market more effectively.
Business Plans allow you to determine the financial needs of the business leading to a better understanding of how much capital is needed to start the business and how much fundraising is needed.
Business Plans allow you to put your business model in words and analyze it further to improve revenues or fill the holes in your strategy.
Business plans allow you to attract investors and partners into the business as they can read an explanation about the business.
Business plans allow you to position your brand by understanding your company’s role in the marketplace.
Business Plans allow you to uncover new opportunities by undergoing the process of brainstorming while drafting your business plan which allows you to see your business in a new light. This allows you to come up with new ideas for products/services, business and marketing strategies.
Business Plans allow you to access the growth and success of your business by comparing actual operational results versus the forecasts and assumptions in your business plan. This allows you to update your business plan to a business growth plan and ensure the long-term success and survival of your business.
Business Plan Content
Many people struggle with drafting a business plan and it is necessary to ensure all important sections are present in a business plan:
Executive Summary
Company Overview
Industry Analysis
Consumer Analysis
Competitor Analysis & Advantages
Marketing Strategies & Plan
Plan of Action
Management Team
The financial forecast template is an extensive Microsoft Excel sheet with Sheets on Required Start-up Capital, Salary & Wage Plans, 5-year Income Statement, 5-year Cash-Flow Statement, 5-Year Balance Sheet, 5-Year Financial Highlights and other accounting statements that would cost in excess of £1000 if obtained by an accountant.
The financial forecast has been excluded from the business plan template. If you’d like to receive the financial forecast template for your start-up, please contact us at info@avvale.co.uk . Our consultants will be happy to discuss your business plan and provide you with the financial forecast template to accompany your business plan.
Instructions for the Business Plan Template
To complete your perfect convenience store business plan, fill out the form below and download our convenience store business plan template. The template is a word document that can be edited to include information about your convenience store business. The document contains instructions to complete the business plan and will go over all sections of the plan. Instructions are given in the document in red font and some tips are also included in blue font. The free template includes all sections excluding the financial forecast. If you need any additional help with drafting your business plan from our business plan template, please set up a complimentary 30-minute consultation with one of our consultants.
Ongoing Business Planning
With the growth of your business, your initial goals and plan is bound to change. To ensure the continued growth and success of your business, it is necessary to periodically update your business plan. Your business plan will convert to a business growth plan with versions that are updated every quarter/year. Avvale Consulting recommends that you update your business plan every few months and practice this as a process. Your business is also more likely to grow if you access your performance regularly against your business plans and reassess targets for business growth plans.
Want a Bespoke Business Plan for your convenience store Business?
Our Expertise
Avvale Consulting has extensive experience working with companies in many sectors including the convenience store industry. You can avail a free 30-minute business consultation to ask any questions you have about starting your convenience store business. We would also be happy to create a bespoke convenience store business plan for your convenience store business including a 5-year financial forecast to ensure the success of your convenience store business and raise capital from investors to start your convenience store business. This will include high-value consulting hours with our consultants and multiple value-added products such as investor lists and Angel Investor introductions.
About Us
Avvale Consulting is a leading startup business consulting firm based in London, United Kingdom. Our consultants have years of experience working with startups and have worked with over 300 startups from all around the world. Our team has thousands of business plans, pitch decks and other investment documents for startups leading to over $100 Million raised from various sources. Our business plan templates are the combination of years of startup fundraising and operational experience and can be easily completed by a business owner regardless of their business stage or expertise. So, whether you are a budding entrepreneur or a veteran businessman, download our business plan template and get started on your business growth journey today.