👨 💻 Opening a clothing store: how to do it, costs and necessary documents

• open a clothing store it is necessary to respect some requirements such as the opening of the VAT number.
• Opening a clothing store, physical or online, requires a initial investment, also called start-up cost.
• Una solution per save is to open a clothing store franchise.

There are many people who dream of open a clothing store to reconcile their passion for fashion with their entrepreneurial skills.

Suffice it to say that in Italy the clothing sector is one of the most profitable on the market. But is it really worth opening a clothing store? Choosing to start this business can prove to be a very profitable choice, but it is also important to have everything in order and keep the commitment high, as well as planning to make the business successful.

But let's see what you need to know before opening a clothing store, how much it costs and what are the steps to follow.

Index

• How to open a clothing store
• How much does it cost to open a clothing store
• Steps and requirements to open a shop
• Open an online clothing store
• How to open a clothing store with no money

How to open a clothing store

To open a clothing store you need to follow a few steps that will make sure you address the right target and, consequently, choose the right business to start.

So, the first factors to consider are:

• target of reference;
• type of goods for sale;
• store location.

Before starting a business, therefore, it is necessary identify the target of reference, i.e. the people you want as customers. To choose the target, therefore, you need to know the audience you want to address. In this way you can decide which type of clothing store you want to open and, consequently, the type of goods for sale.

You can therefore choose between clothing for women, men, children, accessories or footwear. Furthermore, knowing the target, it is possible to customize the offer with the most suitable style.

But even the place where the shop will be located can help you choose the type of clothing to sell. When choosing the place to rent for the business, it is important to evaluate the size and location. In fact, for example, opening a shop located in a transit area may be more convenient than a room located in an area that is not easily accessible.

Once all these choices have been made, you move on to the accounts. How much does it cost to open a clothing store?

How much does it cost to open a clothing store

When you decide to start a business, you also have to face important expenses that represent an investment. The initial costs, also called start-up costs, could scare, but since it is an investment, it will allow you to start the business and, over time, to obtain a higher profit than the costs.

Generally, the investment necessary to open a clothing store ranges from 20.000 to 50.000 euros, a figure that can increase or decrease based on various factors. In fact, some variables must be taken into account, such as:

• shop size;
• type of goods;
• location of the premises (rent and utilities);
• interventions for restructuring and necessary adjustments;
• staff number;
• management software;
• advertising;
• providers.

So, by way of example, a place located in the center will certainly cost more than one in the suburban area. Or, a store that sells designer clothes or a boutique with exclusive products will have higher costs than a low-cost clothing store.

Among the other costs to be expected to open a clothing store are those intended for marketing and advertising campaigns but also the associated costs company current account with which to manage the finances of the business. In addition, it is also necessary to calculate the costs for the accountant, taxes and INPS contributions, in addition to the salaries of the staff, and the cleaning of the premises.

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How much does it cost to open a clothing store franchise

Instead of proceeding independently, some entrepreneurs prefer to be linked to a large, already consolidated brand which simplifies the start-up of the business, both as regards the creation of the shop and advertising.

• receive training, refresher courses, assistance, advice, coaching and constant support;
• take advantage of centralized brand advertising;
• obtain support for the design and preparation of the venue;
• supply the shop by the franchisor, for the furnishings and for the products;
• easier to get finance to start the business.

The costs of opening a clothing franchise depend mainly on the brand, but theinvestment ranges from 15.000 to 20.000 euros.

Steps and requirements to open a shop

Before the actual opening of the clothing store is necessary fulfill some bureaucratic requirements following some bureaucratic procedures specific. The procedure to follow is:

1. Draw up and send SCIA to the pertinent municipality;
2. enroll in the Business Register, INPS and possibly INAIL with the Unified Communication;
3. send the Single Communication to the Chamber of Commerce via PEC with all the documents of the registrations made;
4. pay any SIAE fees to put the music in the shop;

For opening a clothing store it is necessary choose the legal form more suitable with which to constitute. In this choice, factors such as the tax relief to which you are entitled or the fiscal and management duties must be taken into consideration. In general, the most used legal forms are: sole proprietorship, Srl or Simplified Srl.

Furthermore, for all the bureaucratic and tax obligations we have seen, it is necessary open a PEC, in addition to requesting the digital signaturealthough the latter is not always mandatory.

In the event that the premises exceed a certain size, it must be communicated to the Fire Brigade in order to obtain the fire certificate. It is advisable to entrust the administrative part to a competent accountant in the matter.

Opening a clothing store also means preparing the store to accept customer payments, even through payment cards. Therefore, in order to be able to accept payments by credit, debit or prepaid card, or even via smartphone or smartwatch, it is important to have a POS service like SumUp, ideal for small businesses.

Open an online clothing store

In addition to the physical store, you can opt for theopening an online clothing store which cuts costs and adapts to the new habits of the public, who buy more and more from the web rather than in physical stores.

• they reach a wider and more distant audience, increasing the customer base;
• allow customers to purchase at any time, without time limits;
• they simplify advertising which can be done through many channels, even free ones.

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To sell online it is essential open an eCommerce site, in which to virtually exhibit the products sold, but first of all it is necessary open the VAT number e register in the register of companies just like for a physical store.

Consequently, it will also be necessary to communicate the start of the activity to the Municipality, create a PEC for sending the Single Communication to the competent Chamber of Commerce. In addition, INPS and INAIL positions will have to be opened if you want to hire staff.

How much does it cost to open an online clothing store

If the opening procedure of an online store is very similar to that of a physical clothing store, the same cannot be said of the costs.

Among the costs there are also the expenses foreseen for the opening of the VAT number, the PEC and the digital signature.

How to open a clothing store with no money

Even if you don't have the money to open a clothing store, that doesn't mean your dream will have to remain in the drawer. In fact, there are workarounds that allow you to open a clothing store even without money.

As we have seen, a large initial investment is required to open a physical or online clothing store. However, costs can be significantly reduced when you choose to franchise or start a small online business.

But another way to open a shop with no money is to apply for funding. In fact, especially young people today enjoy subsidized finance that promotes youth entrepreneurship thanks to non-repayable loans or at a subsidized rate, promoted by the Regions or by the European Community.

Opening a Clothing Store – Frequently Asked Questions

What does it take to open a clothing store?

To open a physical or online clothing store, it is necessary to fulfill some bureaucratic procedures which include the opening of the VAT number, the registration in the Company Register, the sending of the Single Communication to the Chamber of Commerce of the certifications, the registration in the INPS and INAIL and other documents described in this guide.

How much does it cost to open a clothing store?

Adding up the costs initially foreseen, overall opening a clothing store costs between 20.000 and 50.000 euros.

Is it mandatory to have a POS to open a clothing store?

Yes, physical stores are required to have a POS service to allow the customer to pay with payment cards. The POS obligation was introduced for the first time in our country in 2012 by the Monti Government and dates back to the Growth Decree 2.0 (Decree-law 179/2012, article 15, paragraph 4).