👨 💻 Opening a shop: how to do it, compliance and costs

• To open a shop it is necessary to pay attention to a series of factors such as: personal and professional requirements and related authorizations.
• To open a shop you must have one VAT number and incur costs, which can be reduced thanks to the opening of a franchised store or an e-commerce.
• Among the activities that can be more successful, you can consider: a clothing store, a toy store or a vending machine.

However, you can also consider the possibility of a more traditional version, the physical store, with a room located in the right area. Finally, it is possible to combine both realities between technology and tradition. As you can see the possible choices are different. In our guide you will have all the information you need to start your business in a short time.

Index

• How to open a shop
• Open a shop: the VAT number
• How to open a VAT number for a shop
• Opening a shop: costs
• How to open a franchise shop
• Open an online store
• Opening a shop: ideas and cues

How to open a shop

What are the steps to follow if you want to dedicate yourself to this activity? You must consider that having a shop is part of those jobs that are carried out in full autonomy and therefore you will have to consider that it is necessary to invest time, money and above all a lot dedication and inventiveness.

For example, open a clothing store it is an interesting possibility in Italy, and you can decide whether to focus on a particular brand, or choose to offer products accessible to a wider target of people. Whatever your business idea, the steps to follow include the evaluation of some aspects:

• personal requirements;
• professional requirements;
• permits;
• compliance with tax legislation;
• cost evaluation;
• choice of the type of store.

Personal and professional requirements

If you want to open a shop you will need to have the age of majority. In addition, a number of requirements are required and defined morals. In particular, you must not have had criminal convictions with sentences exceeding 3 years, or committed crimes against the Public Administration. You must have Italian citizenship or a residence permit. Finally, if you have been subjected to bankruptcy, at least 5 years must have passed since the closure.

Another aspect to consider concerns i professional requirements. For example, if you want open a shoe store or one of clothing, you will not be required to have a degree or a particular bar enrollment. The opening of a grocery store or a bar is quite different. In this case you will need to have a number of professional qualifications:

• SAB qualification: authorization for the administration of food and drink;
• HCCP certificate: Required for food production and processing.

Qualifications are obtained after a course organized by a training school or by local bodies. In any case, you will be able to open a shop even without personally having these requirements, but hiring from among the staff a responsible who has the relevant qualifications.

The permissions

To start a physical store business you will need to have a room. The choice of location is essential to have a better chance of success, carefully evaluating the competitors and the target customers you can address. In addition, you will need to find the most suitable property that complies with a number of legal requirements.

In order to open a shop, you will need to have an authorization from the municipality where your business is located, and present the Business Start Declaration, open the INPS and INAIL positions and request authorization to display the sign. You will have to carry out work to bring the environments up to standard and safe, as well as comply with any specific directives that vary according to the activity.

In this regard, it will be useful to go and check which ones are directly at the competent ASL, or you will continue to contact a specialized accountant firm.

Open a shop: the VAT number

Among the most frequent questions concerning the opening of a shop is that related to VAT number. Even today there is a certain confusion between continued and occasional entrepreneurial activity. If you want to learn more about this topic, read our guide on occasional performance.

Let's try to bring some clarity on this aspect. Let's start with the concept of occasional activity. This provides for overall time limits for its execution equal to 30 days a year, and you will not be able to exceed the income ceiling of €5.000. Furthermore, the activity must be sporadic and unorganized.

These are all aspects that do not fit in a shop. To set up an exercise, you will need to organize and plan your activity, as well as that you will do it continuously. So if you want to start a business it is mandatory to have a VAT number. The same is true if you decide to open an online store. We recommend reading our complete guide on how to open a VAT number for an e-commerce.

Related: Hirings are increasing: 2023 data and subsidies

How to open a VAT number for a shop

Today the procedure has been considerably simplified, given that it can be carried out directly online, on the website of the Revenue Agency. Also, if you have to open an e-commerce, the operation has been further made faster, thanks to the service Communicate.

These are factors that will influence your future business. In order not to make mistakes, a valid advice is to be assisted by one accountant office. Below we will analyze some important steps, such as the choice of tax and social security regimes.

The tax system and social security contributions

Simultaneously with the opening of the VAT number, you will have to indicate the type of tax regime to be adopted. You will have two options:

• flat rate scheme;
• ordinary regime.

The flat rate scheme can be applied if you have certain requirements. First, you'll need to have one individual company. Furthermore, it is required that the annual turnover does not exceed i  € 65.000. These two conditions allow online or physical stores to be included in the subsidized regime as well.

If, on the other hand, you decide to open a shop with a partnership or a capital company, then you will have to adhere to the ordinary regime. Finally, you will have to choose the reference pension fund. In this case as an activity related to trade you will have to join the Management of Craftsmen and Traders of the INPS.

Opening a shop: costs

Planning the opening of your store is essential, in order to carefully evaluate what they are costs that you will have to face. In this perspective it becomes useful to draw up a business plan, or a document in which all the information useful for creating your business will be entered, including the earnings and expenses to be faced:

• expense for the VAT number;
• cost of setting up the company;
• expense for authorisations;
• expenses for setting up the premises;
• management costs.

The request for a VAT code it does not include a cost, while you will have to pay a contribution of €200 for the registration of your company in the Chamber of Commerce, plus the related stamp duties, in addition to the costs of opening a notary or an accountant firm. Also, if you get matched by a consultant, a recommended operation, you will also have to add the costs of his work, which are between €800 and €1.500.

Another expense to consider concerns the permissions, which vary from €300 to €1000 based on the location and size of the venue. In addition, you will need to consider the rental costs of the property, the aesthetic setting and supplies necessary to start the activity with the purchase of the products. In principle, to open a physical store you will need a sum between 20.000€ e 80.000€.

To this you will need to add i management costs, including those for utilities and taxes which, if you fall under the flat-rate regime, provide for a fixed rate of 5% for the first 5 years. Instead, if you have joined the ordinary regime you will have to consider IRAP, in addition to IRES, with a rate of approximately 37%.

Is it possible to open a shop at no cost?

As you can see, opening a shop still requires a important investment. You will be able to reduce the amount if you decide to participate in one of the state initiatives with i non-repayable loans.

They are very valid opportunities, with the possibility of repaying the loan in a long time frame and with interest rates equal to almost zero. In any case, one is almost always expected initial investment and also, the timescales are quite long. This should not discourage you from deciding to develop your shop project.

In fact, thanks to the web and new forms of commercial collaboration, you will have the opportunity to open a shop, even with one minimum spend and in some cases zero. There are two opportunities:

• open a franchise store;
• open an online store.

How to open a franchise shop

The term franchise identifies a particular type of business which involves a collaboration between a company and a small entrepreneur. How it works is quite simple, since the franchise company will offer you its brand and everything you need to start your business. This way you can take advantage an already known brand in the area, as well as having quality products that already have a niche market.

Finally, the restructuring and setting up procedures are also simplified, given that the franchise company itself will deal with the related bureaucratic process. What do these companies earn? You will be obligated to sell only their products and fees will apply monthly royalties.

Open an online store

Today you can open a shop from home using a computer and managing all online activities. How to do? All you need to do is create an e-commerce. The costs are reduced, since you will only have to consider those related to setting up a site:

Related: Simplified scheme: what it is, requirements and differences with the ordinary and flat-rate scheme

In addition, thanks to new commercial formulas such as the dropshipping, you will have the opportunity to make sales without having to have a warehouse, lowering start-up costs.

When a user purchases a product on your e-commerce, you will go directly to the specific supplier to purchase it. It will be the latter to send it to the user.

Opening a shop: ideas and cues

By choosing in a planned way, you will be able to arrive at a good relationship between investment costs and performance over time. Among some of the safest ideas today there are: a clothing store, food store, toy store, but not only. Even opening a vending machine can make money over time. Let's see specifically how to open these types of businesses.

Open a clothing store

In fact, you can bet on selling niche products, for example by opening a shoe store, or choosing a wider target and therefore selling products at a competitive price.

In this case, the costs to start the business can also be very variable, and generally a small amount is spent if you rely on a chain of stores already present in the area, proceeding for example through franchise.

Open a grocery store

During the pandemic phase the food industry it was the one that exponentially increased sales both online and through physical stores. A fact that makes you think and that places this type of activity among those that can offer you various business opportunities.

There are so many options in this regard, also considering that Italian food products are exported all over the world, and there is ample freedom for new ideas. Here are some examples of shops that you can set up:

• niche food;
• mini Market;
• supermarkets;
• Organic products;
• specific foods for fitness.

Again i costs are very variable: if it is a small business, 40.000 or 50.000 euros may be enough, while for larger businesses a greater initial investment may be necessary, even higher than 100.000 euros.

Open a toy store

Another area that continues to be interesting is that of the world of toys. In principle, an investment between €30.000 and €60.000 will be required, especially if you aim for the current trend, linked to the department Games.

In fact, selling consoles and related subscription services is among the most lucrative activities currently when it comes to opening a shop. The objects of merchandising and children's toys.

A toy or video game store is an activity that you can set up both physically and by exploiting the potential of an e-commerce, selling to a wider audience via the internet.

Open a vending machine shop

In fact, the first uses of automated systems were strictly connected only to the world of serving drinks and snacks. Today you will have the opportunity to create a shop with distributors in different sectors.

An example? With the automatic system you can open a yogurt, a shop of sale of glasses or niche products. In many cases, the presence of staff is required to assist customers, while in others it is possible to decide to set up a completely automatic shop.

A vending machine shop is a lot cost-effective: to open this type of business, 1.000 or 2.000 euros may be sufficient initially, and the income is continuous over time, especially when you choose a very busy area.

Opening a shop – Frequently Asked Questions

Which shop to open today?

Do you need a VAT number to open a shop?

Yes, to open a tax shop, or an e-commerce, you need to have a VAT number. Furthermore, it is necessary to comply with certain obligations, such as opening an INPS or INAIL position, and to present specific requests to the Municipality.

How to open a shop without money?

You will be able to open a shop with a minimum investment by joining a franchise, or by opening an e-commerce for online sales, or by taking advantage of the opportunities of dropshipping.

Author

Expert in business and management economics

Degree in Business Economics at the Politecnico di Lugano, passionate about stock exchanges, markets and financial investments. I have skills in law and corporate management, with administrative experience. I worked for the magazine Money.it, today I write about law, economics, finance, marketing and business management.

Fact-Checked

John Emmi

Chartered accountant

Revision as at 8 May 2023

Accountant since the second millennium, professional innovator in the third millennium. The future of the accountant profession in my latest book "from society to the professional network".