Small Retail Business Plan Template

how to start a small retail business plan template

Are you interested in starting your own small retail Business?

Introduction
If you've ever dreamed of owning your own retail business, but didn't know where to start, this guide is for you. Starting a small retail business can be a daunting task, but with careful planning and execution, it can be a rewarding experience. There are a few key things to keep in mind when starting a small retail business:
1. Choose the right location.
2. Create a detailed business plan.
3. Make sure you are properly capitalized.
4. Build a strong team of employees.
5. Focus on customer service.
6. Manage your inventory carefully.
7. Stay up to date on trends in your industry.
By following these tips, you can set your small retail business up for success.
Global Market Size
The retail industry is worth trillions of dollars and is continuing to grow. This makes starting a small retail business a very attractive option for entrepreneurs. However, before you start your small retail business, it is important to understand the size of the global market and your potential customer base. The retail industry is worth $24.3 trillion dollars. This industry is expected to grow to $28.1 trillion by 2020. The United States makes up a large portion of the retail industry, with $5.3 trillion in retail sales. This is expected to grow to $6.0 trillion by 2020. Other large markets for retail include China ($4.2 trillion), Japan ($1.2 trillion), and the United Kingdom ($0.9 trillion). When starting a small retail business, it is important to consider the size of the global market. However, you should also focus on your potential customer base. For example, if you are selling products that are only popular in the United States, your potential customer base is much smaller than if you were selling products that are popular worldwide. It is important to choose a product or products that have a large potential customer base to increase your chances of success.
Target Market
When starting a small retail business, it is important to consider who your target market is. This can be done by considering the following factors: -Who is your target audience? -What needs does your target audience have that your business can meet? -What are the demographics of your target audience? -What is your target audience's buying behavior? -Where is your target audience located? Once you have considered these factors, you can begin to develop a marketing plan that will reach your target audience.
Business Model
There are a few key things to consider when starting a small retail business. The first is your business model. What type of retail business do you want to start? There are many different types of retail businesses, from brick-and-mortar stores to online businesses. Consider the type of products you want to sell and the best way to sell them. The second key consideration is your target market. Who are you selling to? Consider the demographics of your target market and where they like to shop. Are you selling to men, women, or children? What age group are you targeting? What income level? Once you know who you are selling to, you can better determine where to locate your store and what type of products to sell. The third key consideration is your competition. Who else is selling similar products in your area? What are they doing well? What could you do better? Knowing your competition will help you develop strategies to differentiate your business and attract customers. Finally, you need to consider the costs of starting and running your business. How much will it cost to rent or buy a storefront? How much will you need to invest in inventory? How much will you need to spend on marketing and advertising? Carefully consider the costs of starting your business to make sure it is feasible. If you have a clear idea of your business model, target market, and competition, you are well on your way to starting a successful small retail business!.
Competitive Landscape
As a small retail business, you will be competing against other businesses in your industry and market. It is important to understand the competitive landscape and what your competitors are doing in order to create a successful business. There are a few things to consider when researching your competition:
-What products or services do they offer?
-How do they market themselves?
-What are their prices?
-What is their customer service like?
You can research your competition online, through customer reviews, and by talking to people who have shopped at their businesses. Once you have a good understanding of your competition, you can start to create a plan for your own business.
Conclusion
If you've made it through all of the steps in this guide, then congratulations! You are now the proud owner of a small retail business. Just remember to stay organized, stay positive, and most importantly, have fun!

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:
  1. Executive Summary
  2. Company Overview
  3. Industry Analysis
  4. Consumer Analysis
  5. Competitor Analysis & Advantages
  6. Marketing Strategies & Plan
  7. Plan of Action
  8. 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 small retail business plan, fill out the form below and download our small retail business plan template. The template is a word document that can be edited to include information about your small retail 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 small retail Business?

Our Expertise

 

Avvale Consulting has extensive experience working with companies in many sectors including the small retail industry. You can avail a free 30-minute business consultation to ask any questions you have about starting your small retail business. We would also be happy to create a bespoke small retail business plan for your small retail business including a 5-year financial forecast to ensure the success of your small retail business and raise capital from investors to start your small retail 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.