Christian bookshops

[Unix]

I suppose that besides things like fresh water, pensions are included in that?:

in the US, social security coverage (we pay into) is similar to the cost of monthly rent. Without utilities, grocery, clothes, and other expenses. So people have to work as much as they can.

I understand the desire to run a bookshop but whether it's a good idea also depends on how much the rent is.
If You start, You can fine-tune as You by optimizing what kind of books are offered and trying to find several niches.

To start a bookshop is a good idea if considering You'll have more things, inspiring things, to do. If You can't find and motivate Yourself to enough other work, the bookshop might be a good idea.

Have You made up Your mind yet, and how much more time exactly do You have before You have to make a final decision?

 

[Goodbook]

The rent is 310 a week, and the turnover currenly roughly twice that so it breaks even.

Theres no time limit to make up my mind as shes the one that wants to retire and travel once the business is sold..to whoevers keen enough to buy.

My problem is finding support or another person also keen to partner with me. I would not want to do it all my own and could not anyway. Besides having nobody to talk to, it would be boring, and also, I couldnt lift all those books just my own all the time.

So..i guess keep praying and putting out feelers. Has to be someone keen to do it and of course knowing money and profits would be a bonus but have at least some busiinesss sense.

Im not too worried about economy, theres always recessions, depressions and bubbles. i just happen to be born in the generation that got the worst of it. Baby boomers, my parents generation, now have it sweet, they can double dip and nobody calls them on it. The lady did say it would suit a retired couple supplementing their pension, as she and her hubby orginally planned. However her hubby passed away.

 

[Goodbook]

My parents have zero interest in books by the way, my dad has his own hobbies.

 

[parsley]

"The rent is 310 a week...once the business is sold..."

It sounds like she is selling the book business, and then you are also renting the space? $+$

You will essentially be starting your own business from scratch, so make sure you're not paying her too much for the business. The inventory and clientele is worth something, but people will come to the location whether you buy the biz from her or not. I would guess you can say no, and still rent the space.

Be realistic -- if you make less than she did, will you go into debt? How will you pay yourself wages? Split the small income or debt with a partner? Find a way to ensure having what people will buy.

You might need to pay renter's insurance, business liability insurance, credit card processing fees, tax preparation... things can add up.

There is an established used bookstore near my house with one man operating everything, in maybe 1000 sq meters, with books piled to the ceiling and double-parked on the floor. He is very careful with which ones he accepts, so he doesn't have a lot of duds taking up space.

The customers carry books to his counter for (sale and resale), and his only lifting seems to be when he finds places for them -- so that can be done in handfuls.

Maybe the cat does more work than we see.

It's in a small plaza, and the rent is probably average. Utilities, people in and out the door all the time. Internet bills. Marketing.

He seems to love what he does, and immerse himself in this life, and not act as though it is a burden. But he has to LOAD his shop with inventory to make it worth visiting. (So he says.) He buys used books outright, so the inventory might represent tens of thousands or more.

I think it can be done... B&N keeps an active staff... but plan well to make sure you survive.

 

[Goodbook]

There wont be credit card fees as not accepting credit cards.
Its not that big a business..but she's selling it for 14 grand. Frankly the books are not worth that much...its more so the location..but..problem is, no free parking.
Because I used to work at the library practically next door, this was a huge hassle.

Also..no wifi. At the moment.
Huh. If went into it, would not want to make less than she did! If partnered, yes, income would then be split..but then, I would not be earning enough to live comfortably on. Probably less than the benefit. I could live on less, but if partner was not with me, ie. not a married couple situation, then, is it really worth it?

It would be hard to find a partner with an agreed vision especially if they lived far away across town. Its just easier if you a mom and pop business. More reliable. So..maybe I just let this one go to a mom and pop.

I don't see myself holed up in a bookshop all on my own. I think I might die of boredom..unless I had a cat with me. But then, good thing about own bookshop..I would actually get to read the books. You can't do that in a library if you work there. I would need time to scout for books though..and you have to do that in working hours, so someone needs to mind the shop.

 

[Goodbook]

its not the lifting involved I'm afraid of can always ask ppl next door for help...but..I just don't see myself doing it on my own. Also mum would kill me if she found out I bought this bookshop and was doing it all on my own.

 

[Radagast]

Its not that big a business..but she's selling it for 14 grand. Frankly the books are not worth that much...its more so the location..but..problem is, no free parking.

Be very, very careful. It's clear from what you say about rent that she isn't selling the space (because she doesn't own it). It sounds like she's selling the NAME of the business plus the stock of books. You'd probably want your own name anyway, and it sounds like the books are not worth that much, so I'm not sure why you'd pay the $14,000.

Before doing anything you'd need professional advice on GST and on how to register a business. And you'd need to tell WINZ.

is it really worth it?

That's something to work out very carefully. In Australia, many bookshops are closing because they can't make enough money, especially when competing with the Internet.

In this case, a turnover of about $600/week, subtracting the cost of rent, power, the books themselves, and other costs would probably not leave enough to live on. And you'd never get that $14,000 back.

If the plan interests you long-term, I think I'd look for paid work in a bookshop as a way of getting experience.

 

[Goodbook]

Nah, already worked in a library, dont need to work in a bookshop. Overqualified anyway.
I put my name down for the christian one, they never got back to me..so meh.

I just keep on the benefit.
So..not sure what im gonna do with all these new books friend gave me now. They graphic novels, collectable series. I dont read them. She cant sell them, that bookshop wont take them as they only do popular romance type fiction, and only exchange. I dont want any of THEIR books.

Well, something will turn up. I got other work to do.

 

[parsley]

Flea market space? Around here, that's $20-100 per day, some $100/month for a 10x10. Not a full business, but a good taste of what sells and how fast. Much cheaper than $14k with not much to show for it. (You could easily pay more than that in insurances and permits, just to open.)

Almost any business, you can set it up almost as easily as buying out or franchising. A client list can be valuable, for service followings like taxes and medical care... but there is no guarantee you keep these things with the sale.

Even the location -- what if the landlord leased it out to someone else? You'd have to clean out her books and find a place to store them, fast.

Be very, very careful. It's clear from what you say about rent that she isn't selling the space (because she doesn't own it). It sounds like she's selling the NAME of the business plus the stock of books. You'd probably want your own name anyway, and it sounds like the books are not worth that much, so I'm not sure why you'd pay the $14,000.

Agree.

Frankly the books are not worth that much...its more so the location..but..problem is, no free parking.

But if she leaves and you rent from the landlord, then she has no control over the location -- anyone can set up shop.

 

[Goodbook]

Ive found a taker for my books, english language students. Donation.

I decided im not going into the book business. I'll just give books away for free.
ive got writing and other stuff to do.

Thanks anyway for advice and counsel.

 

[Goodbook]

Lol fleamarket. Our church has carboot sale every sat. Im not selling books out Of my carboot. No..i have done it once before when me and a friend tried to sell all our babysitters club and sweet valley high books.
We got one customer.

 

[parsley]

Carboot.. I always have to look up one of your terms! Lol. Here, they're anti-theft devices. And fleas... we don't sell many.

Yes, I don't think books sell well in that setting. People who want books, go to where books are found. Some scavenge of course, but book shoppers like to sit and read.

Glad you found someone to take the books already! It's always easier to find a job that pays benefits and all the extras, but you went through some valuable thought processes and conversations, so not a total loss.