thoughts on how much capital to sart a disc store from scratch

tinkering with the idea of a disc/disc golf store...

obviously, web-based sales and a website will be a large part of it, but i'm first considering the inital up-front costs and legwork involved in the actual 'store'...   location, start-up costs, marketing, etc..

 

anybody out there have any experience in starting a business from the ground floor???

 

 

[Charles Isaac]

Sans the cost of discs . . . and depending on which online store product you use . . . Web based will be about $1000 +/-

The local store depends on where you live:
location, location, location will determine rent for the store.
Local permits and inspections will cost about $500 or more.
You will need insurance - again highly dependent on area

You will need shelving, boxes, and display.

Now depending on the area you can diversify more. Here in SD we have a great local shop . . . that sells discs but also sells: bikes, hats, clothing, skateboards, bike and skateboard services and repair, shoes, a few CDs (getting of that), incense, and salsa and hot sauce (huge seller). I know in other parts of the world stores are more specialized. In the MidWest you have to have a store that offers three or four or more things and client groups.

Talk with local business people. Then talk some more. Depending on location talk with people who are 50 miles away or so and in a similar business.

Why should I visit your local sore and buy from you rather then Amazon (that is easy for disc golf), or worse yet Clearwaterdiscgolf.com why would I buy from discgolfcenter.com instead of clearwaterdiscgolf.com or your place. I have bought from both for differing reasons. there are reasons to buy from both at differing times. I personally buy most of my stock discs (read Innova non-special) in town.

Now I think that http://www.herodiscusa.com/ has made a nice little niche in the disc gold world. Just bought a few Japan Open 150 Rocs from them.

As far as online goes what do you offer that will make me buy there instead of the other 100 places that sell discs online. As I recall either Innova or Discraft are not looking for anymore online people.

You need to start with the basic business plan and go from there.

The other question you need to ask yourself . . . is CA really a good place to be starting a business at this time. Remember you cannot move a B&M store easily and cannot move to another state.

Good luck

[Charles Isaac]

The other idea I had was if you had some land . . . open a for profit disc golf course and attach a store to it . . . aka pro shop.

[mike pearson]

thats a great idea...
looking into it.

(i have no land, so i will use my excellent sales skills to try and persuade someone who does...)
thanks!!!