After coming up with the idea, the next step in starting your antique should be to write a business plan. The business plan will make you focus on some important aspects of the business, such as who your customers are, how you plan to reach them, projecting sales and expenses, your value proposition to use for marketing, and more. You’ll also need to do some research to calculate exactly what your startup expenses will be.

Not only will a bank require you to have a business plan if you need financing, but multiple studies have shown that having a good business plan increases the odds of starting a successful business. Writing the plan helps you think through all the aspects of the business and then serves as a guide as you begin.

Related: How to write a business plan

Finding the perfect antique store name can be challenging. Not only does the name have to reflect what you do and be appealing to customers, but it also has to be available to use. You can check your state’s website to see if the name is available and register your name. Your name should make you stand out, reflect your brand, and tell potential customers exactly what you do.

Related: Tips and ideas for naming an antique store

A business structure (also referred to as a business entity) refers to how a business is legally organized to operate. There are four primary business structures to choose from, which include the sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, and Limited Liability Company (LLC). Each type of entity has its own pros and cons, such as liability exposure, costs, and administrative requirements.

When deciding on which business structure is best for an antique store, it normally comes down to the sole proprietorship and Limited Liability Company.

A partnership opens the owners up to unnecessary personal liability because if a partner does something to get the business sued, or runs off with cash from the business, the other partners are personally liable to repay.
 
The corporation can be a good choice to minimize liability risk because it separates the business assets from the owner’s assets. If the corporation is sued or certain business debts can’t be paid back, the owners aren’t personally responsible to repay them. The downside to the corporation is that it is more complicated than all the other entities and requires more administration than the LLC. If you plan on raising a lot of investment though, the corporation is usually the better choice.

That leaves the sole proprietorship and LLC.

The sole proprietorship is the least expensive and easiest structure to start which is appealing. The downside is the owner is personally liable should anything happen to the business, which is an important consideration. The LLC offers the ability to operate as a sole proprietorship with the liability protection of a corporation. Depending on the state, the cost to form an LLC runs from $40 – $500, which is pretty inexpensive for protecting the owners from business-related lawsuits and certain debts.

Related: Guide to forming your LLC
 

Your store, ideally, should be located in a historic area with a lot of foot traffic. While it seems that you don’t want to have competition, it’s actually a good thing to be among other antique stores. People like to browse multiple stores, but you need to make yours stand out with good signage and window displays, as well as unique merchandise.

If you are going to operate as an antique mall with booth spaces for local vendors, be sure to create a vendor agreement. A vendor agreement should include the amount of rent, commission amount, and the length of the agreement, which is usually 6 to 12 months. Another important consideration is what items are allowed in your store as you don’t want sellers using your space simply for storage or letting them display junk.

Related: Choosing a business location

Depending on the location of the business, several types of business registration will likely be needed.

Some common registrations an antique store may need include a business license, sales tax permit, and an Employer Identification Number if you plan to hire employees.

Related: Common business licenses, permits, and registrations by state

Coming up with a good business idea and having the skills to run it are one thing, but getting the funding to start an antique store is another. In order to get a loan, the borrower(s) will need to have good credit and be able to invest 15-25% of their money towards the total start-up costs. Some entrepreneurs use their own funds, a home equity loan, or credit cards, but you are putting your funds at risk and will have payments that may or may not be more than those of a business loan.

Related: Finding the money to start a business

Keeping your small business and personal finances in separate bank accounts is important to track the income and expenses of your business and identify trends.
 
Many banks offer free business checking accounts, so be sure to find a cost-effective option for your business.

An antique store will need to set aside a budget to cover marketing costs on a continuous basis. Common marketing techniques for an antique store include social media marketing using Facebook Marketplace, Instagram, Pinterest, and online advertising. Your main source of business, however, will be foot traffic when located in the right area, which makes finding a good location so important.

Related: Low-cost ideas to market a new business

There are several types of insurance to consider when starting an antique store. A few of these include:
– General liability insurance can help protect you from third-party claims of bodily injury and property damage.
– Worker’s compensation insurance covers expenses like medical bills and legal fees that a business might face if an employee were ever hurt while working.
– Property and casualty insurance protects a business if merchandise is damaged from an event such as flooding or fire.

The cost to insure an antique store will vary depending on several factors. To get the most accurate idea of what to budget for insurance, request quotes from multiple providers. When comparing the quotes, consider not only the premiums but also how the plan exclusions, coverage limitations, and deductibles compare.

Related: What insurance does an antique store need?

Running an antique store is very time-consuming. You’ll be spending a lot of time buying items, as well as running the business. Since this is often a task better suited for the owner, employees that you can trust to run the store and negotiate prices with customers may be needed if you plan to be open every day.

In addition to salary costs, your budget will also need to include other employee-related expenses. Workman’s comp insurance, unemployment insurance, and paid time off are common expenses that a business will need to cover when hiring staff.

Related: Hiring your first employee

Setting up an accounting system for your antique store is critical to the long-term success of your business.

Staying on top of taxes not only keeps the business out of trouble with the government but the numbers can be used to track and monitor trends and cash flow in the business and maximize profits.

Related: Setting up the accounting for your business