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50 Best Retail Business ideas You Can Start Today

Do you want to start a retail store online with little money? If YES, here are 50 best highly profitable small wholesale & retail business ideas for small towns.

There are different value chains in the world of business – especially as it relates to products; it trickles down from those who deal in raw materials, to those who are into manufacturing of products, to those who are into wholesale distribution of goods, as well as to those who are into retailing of goods.

These are the various business concepts that you can settle for as an aspiring entrepreneur. There are several products that can be retailed and the nature of the business gives room for trial and error approach to business. Here are 50 business ideas an entrepreneur can choose from the retailing industry.

Best Retail Business ideas

  1. Retailing of Bread

Bread is a stable food that people consume in all parts of the world. What is more, it is easier to find entrepreneurs retailing bread. If you are looking for a retailing business to delve into, a business that requires little capital to get started, and then you should consider retailing bread.

All you need to do is to identify a supplier, secure deliver of breads from different bakeries and then display them in your store. It is a cool way of making money but you must ensure that you sell them all as fast as you can, because breads have short shelf lifespan. You should also consider the fact that will need to offer different types of bread to your consumers.

  1. Retailing of Soft Drinks

There are various brands of soft drinks (Coca Cola, Pepsi, Schweppes et al) all across the world and companies who are into the production of these soft drinks rely greatly on retailers to help them sell their drinks.

If you are looking for a means of making money, then one of your options is to go into the retailing of soft drinks. Beyond every reasonable doubt, there is a very large market for soft drinks; its consumer cuts across people of all age groups.

The major things you need to do to make headway in this type of business, is to choose a location where you can easily attract consumers of soft drinks and also to ensure that you have assorted chilled soft drinks for sale at all times. Locations such as sports centers, public facilities, school and campuses, religious gathering et al.

  1. Open a Grocery Store

A Grocery Store is a good picture of what it means to run a retailing business; every product in a grocery store is all retailed. If you are looking for an ideal retailing business to start – a mom and pop style of business that requires low start – up capital to set – up, then you should consider opening a grocery store in an ideal location.

People visit grocery stores to restock their homes from time to time. This type of business is simple to set up and it is indeed a profitable business. You might not make huge profit from this type of business, but you are sure of maintaining steady cash flow on a daily basis.

If you choose to start this type of business, ensure that you conduct market survey in order to know the types of products to stock your store with. The truth is that if you stock your store with what the people around do not need, you will struggle to make sales.

  1. Start a Beer Retailing Business

Pubs, bars and hang – out joints are known basically for the retailing of beers. There is a large market for beers not just in the united states of America but also in most parts of the world except in core Arab countries. As a matter of fact, beer brands such as Heineken are consumed all over the world.

If you are looking for a retailing business to start, then you should consider opening a beer parlor where beers from various brands will be retailed directly to consumers.

Once you have decided to start your own beer retailing business, one of the strategies you should adopt is to ensure that you have assorted beers from different brands in your country. You might as well engage in the sale of locally brewed beer from microbreweries.

Over and above, if your bar is well located in a safe environment, you wouldn’t struggle to attract customers on a regular basis.

  1. Start a Wine Retailing Business

People drink wines from different manufacturers during various occasions. There is a large global market for assorted wines.

If you are looking for a retail business to go into, you should consider starting a wine retailing business. Be sure that you choose a good location to set – up your shop and also ensure that you have assorted alcoholic and non – alcoholic wines from different brands on your shelve.

Retail business thrives when your customers have various options to choose from. As a matter of fact, once people can easily get the brand of wines they are looking for from your shop, it makes it easier for them to refer their family members and friends to your store.

  1. Start Babies and Pregnant Women Clothes Retailing Business

Another retailing business that you can consider when tinkering to start a business is the retailing of babies’ clothes, as well as maternity clothes et al. It is a cool way of making money. Before starting this type of business, it is important to first conduct a thorough market survey and feasibility studies so as to choose a good location to rent or lease a store.

If you locate this type of business in an area that is dominated by retirees, you are likely going to struggle to make sales. One of the best places to locate this type of business is a hospital and maternity center; that is a place where pregnant women visits for antenatal clinics et al.

  1. Fruits Mart.

Opening a fruit mart is yet another retailing business that an entrepreneur should consider starting. Beyond every reasonable doubt, there is a large market for fruits. Just like staple foods, fruits consumers cut across people of various age groups.

As such, if you are looking for a retailing business to start, a business that requires low start – up capital, then you should look towards opening your own fruit mart in your neighborhood.

If you are looking towards opening your own fruit mart, then you must ensure you put facilities in place that will help you preserve your fruits. Fruits are highly perishable hence it must be well preserved if you are not able to sell them within a very short period of time from when they are harvested. Retailing of fruits is indeed a profitable business.

  1. Open a Retail Pharmacy Store

Another ideal retailing business where products (drugs and medical supplies) from different manufacturers are retailed is a retail pharmacy store. If you are a licensed pharmacy and you looking towards starting your own business as against working for someone, then you should consider opening a retail pharmacy store.

This type of business is highly profitable and thriving if well located. Pharmacy retailing business if one the few retailing businesses that are highly regulated. Before you can start this type of business, you will be required to secure permits a license from the regulatory bodies in your country or city.

  1. Open a Boutique

Boutique is also a typical retailing business and any entrepreneur in any part of the world can successfully open a boutique without much stress.

All that is required to lunch this type of business is a store that is well positioned and money to stock your boutique with different types, colors, shapes and designs of clothes and fashion accessories from different clothing labels / designers.

The truth is that, if your boutique is well located and well stocked with quality clothes and fashion accessories, you are likely not going to struggle to attract customers.

  1. Open a Bookshop

If you are considering to begin a retailing business, then one of your options is to open a bookshop; a store where books of different genre from different authors are sold. There is a large market for books especially if you have done your homework before stocking up your bookshop with books.

If you are considering starting this type of business, aside from the fact that you will be operating your bookshop from a facility (brick and mortar store), it will be to your advantage to also maintain an online book shop. Why is this vital? Well, it will give the online community an opportunity to patronize your bookshop.

  1. Open a Mobile Phone Shop

Mobile phones, smart phones and accessories store is yet another cool retailing business an entrepreneur can consider starting. It might not be cheap starting this type of business, but of a truth it is a highly thriving business. There is a large market for mobile phones and its accessories.

Just like any other retailing business, choosing a good site for this type of business and ensuring that you have phones from different brands, are some of the ideas you need to adopt if you want to make good income from the business.

Starting this type of business might require a huge startup capital, but in the long run it sure does pay off and you will smile to the bank. However, you will need to do some good homework, and that is to found out who the suppliers are.

  1. Retailing of Children’s Toys

Aside from people who buy toys for the purpose of reselling them, most people who buy toys purchase them from retail stores. As a matter of fact, there is hardly any household with children in the United States of America and Canada where you couldn’t possibly find children’s toys.

This goes to show that there is a large market for children’s toys, not just in the United States but in most parts of the world.

So, if you are looking for a retailing business to start, then you should consider opening a children’s toy shop in your community. Please note that the location you situate your children’s toy store, goes a long way to determine the success of the business.

For instance; if you locate this type of business is an estate with a large percentage of retirees, then you are likely going to struggle to grow the business. The ideal location for this type of business is a place where you can easily find children; a place where young couples resides.

  1. Open a Cosmetic Shop

Another ideal retailing business that an entrepreneur can successfully start without any technical skill is operating a cosmetic shop. There is a large market for cosmetics and good enough the cosmetic business is not meant for women alone but all genders. There will always be the need to use body care products, because of the need to stay clean and look beautiful.

If you are looking towards starting a retail business that is easy to run, then you should consider opening a cosmetic shop. Just like any other retail business, positioning is an important factor that determines the success of the business. So, before making a choice as it concerns the locations to rent or lease a shop to start your cosmetic retailing business, ensure that you conduct a thorough market survey and feasibility studies.

  1. Retailing of Food Stuffs

You can open a store where food stuff such as; rice, beans, spaghetti, macaroni, maize, yams, potatoes, and grains et al can be retailed to consumers. When it comes to retailing food stuffs, you can decide to repackage them in smaller quantities that can make it easier for people with little income to purchase. Food is an essential commodity in any part of the world and there is a large market for food.

As a matter of fact, one of the retailing businesses that you start that is likely going to thrive with little or no effort on your part is food retailing business. This is so because food is considered as the number one need in the Maslow hierarchy of human needs.

  1. Retailing or Music and Movies

There is indeed a large market for music and movies and this market cut across people of different faith, race and culture. The United States of America has the largest entertainment industry in the world and products from this industry are basically retailed.

If you live in the United States or in any parts of the world and are considering starting a retail business, one of the businesses that you can successfully start is retailing of music and movies. In other to stay competitive in this industry, you must be involved in retailing music and movies in all formats; that is in softcopies (downloads) and hardcopies (CDs and DVDs et al).

  1. Retailing of Bed sheets, Duvets, Pillows et al

Another thriving and profitable retailing business that is less competitive in the United States that an entrepreneur can consider starting is to open a store where stuff like bed sheets, duvets, pillows and throw pillows et al are retailed. It is a good and easy business to start; besides it is a profitable business venture.

  1. Cigar Lounge

A cigar lounge is a place where smokers patronize so as to freely smoke cigarettes without the fear of harassment from security personal especially in places where there is a ban for smoking in public places. In cigar lounges, smokers can easily find assorted cigarettes from different brands.

Cigar lounge is perhaps one of the few places where cigarettes are freely retailed. So, if you are a cigar lover or you are interested in making money legally from a business, then you should consider opening a cigar lounge in your community.

Please note that you will be required to secure the necessary state permits before you can be allowed to official open and operate a cigar lounge in the United States of America.

  1. Retailing of Frozen Food Mart

Frozen food mart is another typical retailing business and it is indeed a thriving and profitable business venture. Frozen foods such as fish, chickens, turkey et al, are generally consumed worldwide. So, if you are looking for a retailing business to start; a business that is not capital intensive and simple to manage, then you need to consider setting – up a frozen food mart.

It is important to state that the location you choose to start this type of business will go a long way to determine if the business will become successful. The ideal place to locate this type of business is around a market place or residential estates et al.

  1. Open a Meat Mart

Another retailing business that an entrepreneur can successfully start is to open a meat mart. Aside from vegetarians and a couple of people, meats are generally consumed in all the parts of the world hence it is a viable and profitable business to start.

Just like most retailing business, the location you choose to start this type of business will go a long way to determine the success of the business. The ideal place to locate this type of business is food market and residential estates if the law of your community permits it.

  1. Open a Vegetable and Fruits Mart

If you are looking towards starting a retailing business as an entrepreneur and you live in a community where you can easily have access to fresh vegetable and fruits, then you should consider opening a vegetable and fruits mart. It is indeed a simple business that requires little start – up capital and as a matter of fact, any serious minded entrepreneur can successfully run this type of business.

This type of business does not require any special skills to run and it is important to state that if you stock your mart with varieties of fruits and vegetables, you can easily attract customers.

It is also very expedient that you seek out a good source where you can get all there vegetables and fruits in its fresh state. Truth is that one of the things that may repel some customers is the point when these things aren’t fresh or well preserved.

  1. Retailing of Shoes, Sandals, Slippers and Belts

Aside from running a boutique which is a good retailing business in the fashion industry, opening a store where shoes, sandals, slippers and belts are sold, is also a good things to venture into. It is indeed a profitable business – especially if the business is well positioned.

Consequently, if you are looking for a retailing business to delve into, a business that falls within the fashion industry, then you should consider opening a store that sells shoes, sandals, slippers, belts, wallets, hats, caps and general leather works as it relates to fashion.

  1. Open a Coffee Café

A coffee café is a cool retailing business and any serious minded entrepreneur with little funds can successfully start and run the business. As a matter of fact, if you don’t have funds to rent or lease a shop you can still start this type of business.

People who can’t afford shop and are serious about making money can start a mobile coffee business. Although, it might be stressful moving your mobile coffee dispenser from one part of the city to another, but of a truth it is an easier means to sell your coffees.

In starting this type of trade, you have got to determine which of the two options you want to adopt. Doing a good research on your own would also be a great way to start gathering information.

  1. Open a Gift Shop

If you don’t want to stress yourself but want to make money from a business, then one of the businesses that you should consider starting is to open a gift shop. A gift shop is another typical example of a retailing business. A gift shop is a place where various items good enough to be present as gifts are retailed.

If you are looking to start this type of business, it will be to your advantage to ensure that your store is stocked up with a wide range of products from different manufacturers, including handmade products (crafts). It is important to state that the location you choose for this type of business is a key factor that will determine the success of the business.

One of the things that you may consider doing before starting this business is sample the views of people about the types of gifts people love to give. This way you will know what to invest in as you start out.

  1. Retailing of Plastic Products (Containers)

At homes, in the workplaces, in schools, hospitals, hotels et al, you will find various sizes and shapes of plastic products (containers). This goes to show that there is a large market for plastic products (plastic buckets, plastic kegs, plastic plates, plastic pails, et al).

Hence, if you are looking for a retailing business to start, then you should consider opening a shop where plastic products are retailed. It is indeed a profitable business and it is easy to start and manage. One of the ways to get great plastic deals as you start out is through the manufacturers.

This means that you have got to find and establish a good rapport with plastic manufacturers in your locality, or city of location.

  1. Retailing of Chemicals and Paints

Another retailing business howbeit, a little bit technical that an entrepreneur can start and make huge money from is retailing of chemicals and paints.

There are different type of chemicals that are used for different purposes and if you are trained to handle chemicals and paints, one of the retailing businesses that you should consider starting is to open a store where chemicals and paints are retailed.

It is a cool way of making money and if your store is well positioned, you are likely not going to struggle to attract customers; it is indeed a profitable business.

It is very pertinent to start that starting a chemical business would need lots of health permit. This is why you have to strive to get all the possible licensing that you will need to obtain before starting your chemicals and paints business. Failure to do this may be tantamount to being clamped down by the regulating bodies involved in the industry.

  1. Open an Ice Cream Shop

Ice cream shop is another cool retailing business that any serious minded entrepreneur can successfully start and make cool cash from.

It is a business that requires little training and skills to set – up and managed. If you are looking towards starting this type of business, and you don’t have the skills, you can quickly learn the skills, it is likely not going to take you more than a week to learn how to make different flavor of ice creams.

Even if you don’t have the required capital to rent and equip a shop, you can operate a mobile ice cream shop. Mobile ice cream shop will give you the opportunity to change location per time and to go to places where you know you are likely going to generate sales.

One of the things that stand one out in this trade is the ability to be creative. This means that you must be up and doing to make different types of flavors since consumers love variety.

  1. Retailing of Beverages

If you are not interested in starting and operating a provisions store- where you are likely going to sell different types of commodities as it relates to household needs, then you should look at the retailing of beverages.

As a matter of fact, if you chose to retail only a single commodity, it would be easier for you to attract customers because you will definitely have space for varieties of beverages both from your country and from other countries. It is a cool way of making money and it is less cumbersome to handle this type of business that deals with a single commodity both from different manufacturers.

Like other industries that require you buying from manufacturers, you will need to establish a good rapport with these people so that you can be considered for discounts and other freebies.

  1. Open a Sport Shop

Sport shop is another avenue to go into retailing business. A sport shop is a place where sportwears and sport wares are sold. If you are looking towards starting a retailing business, you should consider opening a sport shop. Just like any other retailing business, sport shops are easy to start and operate.

Just ensure that you choose a good location to rent or lease a store and also ensure that you stock your shop with varieties of sports stuffs from different brands and you won’t struggle much to attract customers.

  1. Retailing of Hair Extensions and Hair – care Products

It is observed that ladies spend more on shopping when compared to their male counterparts; which is why any business that is geared towards ladies are known to thrive.

If you are looking for a retail business to start, a business that is easy to start and manage, then you should consider opening a shop where hair extensions and a wide range of hair care products are sold. It is a thriving business and profitable business. Just ensure that you choose a good location for the business, a location that is visible and easy to locate.

  1. Open a Retail Store for Lightings and Electrical Fittings

There is a large market for lightings and electric fittings; it is a business that is easy to set – up and managed. The truth is that people will always have need to replace their electrical bulbs, fluorescents and other lightings because they have a lifespan – perhaps a short life span.

As such, if you are looking to start a retailing business, then you should consider opening a shop where lightings and electrical fittings are sold. It is a profitable business especially if the business is well positioned.

  1. Drinks and Table Water Retailing Business

Drinks and table water retailing business is yet another viable and profitable business that any serious minded entrepreneur can successfully launch.

Once you start the retailing of minerals, malt drinks, wines, beer, other alcoholic drinks and table water, you are sure going to make good sales if the business is well located. Just ensure that you have a fridge to always keep the drinks and water chill. You can run this type of business from your home.

  1. Ice Block Making and Sale Business

Ice Block making and sale business is one of the retailing businesses that is easy to start and manage; it is a business that won’t take your time. With an effective ice block making machine, all you need to do is to employ a sales girl or sales boy and they will help you handle the business.

As a result, if you are considering opening a retailing business that won’t take most of your time; a business that will allow you handle other business interest or even keep a 9 to 5 job, then you should consider starting an ice block making and sale business.

  1. Open a Snack and Chocolate Bar

Another highly thriving retailing business that an entrepreneur can consider starting, a business that is easy to set – up and perhaps with low start – up capital is a snack and chocolate bar. This type of business is easy to manage and it is indeed a profitable venture especially if you carry out detailed feasibility studies before choosing a location for the business.

You don’t need any special skills to successfully run this type of business; the basic skills you need are customer services skills and business skills.

  1. Start a Popcorn Gourmet Business

Gourmet business is another typical retailing business. If you are looking for a simple but highly thriving small business to start, then you need to consider starting a gourmet retailing business. It is indeed a profitable business and if you want to make the best out of this type of business, then position your popcorn gourmet outlet around a cinema, football viewing center, sports center and outdoors event centers.

  1. Retailing of Electronics

Televisions, radios, home theaters, amplifiers et al are products that are highly sellable. If you are looking in the direction of starting a retailing business, then you should consider opening an electronic shop. It is indeed a thriving and profitable business.

Part of the strategy you need to adopt in order to stay competitive in this type of business is to deal in various notable and durable electronic brands. Overtime; brands such as LG, Samsung, Sonny, Panasonic, Sharp et al, have carved their niche in the marketplace. It will be safer for you to ensure that you deal in electronic products from these brands.

  1. Retailing of Automobile Spare Parts

Another retailing business that an entrepreneur should consider starting is to open an automobile spare part shop; a shop where parts of various make of automobiles are sold. The truth is that automobiles parts are subject to wear and tear, hence a thriving spare parts business.

Although this type of business is easy to set – up, but it requires moderate start – up capital and a fair knowledge of automobiles. So, if you are looking towards starting this type of business, then you must ensure that you learn the trade from someone who is already in the business.

  1. Retailing of Towels, Handkerchiefs, Napkins and Tablecloth

As simple as selling towels, handkerchiefs, napkins and tablecloth et al is, it is a business that can pay bills. If you are looking for a retail business to start, a business that is simple to establish and a business that requires low start – up capital and no technical skills, then you should consider retailing towels, handkerchiefs, napkins and tablecloth et al. It is a profitable business without much competition.

You might not be able to make millions from this type of business, but it is a business that you are sure can generate income for you.

  1. Retailing of Kitchen Utensils and Cutleries

Retailing of kitchen utensils and cutleries is yet another thriving retailing business that an entrepreneur can comfortably start with little or no stress. If you are able to rent a shop in a busy market, then you should consider retailing kitchen wares and cutleries.

As a matter of fact, there is hardly any household where you won’t find pots, frying pans, kettles, spoons, plates, knives, et al. These goes to show that there is a large market for such items. So if you considering starting a retailing business, then you should look towards opening a kitchen utensils and cutleries shop.

  1. Retailing of Jewelries and Fashion Accessories

If you have cash and you are looking for a viable retail business to start, then you should look towards starting your own Jewelries and Accessories shop; a shop where you can sell necklaces, rings, earrings, bangles et al.

It is indeed a viable and profitable business and aside from the fact that you can sell these items from your shop, you can as well take your jewelries and fashion accessories to places where you can attract sales. It could be the homes of your family members and friends or even a place where people meet to network.

  1. Retailing of Children’s Educational Materials

Another retailing business that an entrepreneur can successfully start without any form of technical skills needed, is retailing of children’s educational materials. Materials such as kids learning pads, story books, Lego, jig-saw puzzle, educative video games, educative CDs and DVDs et al are highly sellable as long as you position the business is a location where there are children.

You can as well take you goods to schools to market. Retailing children’s educational materials is indeed a profitable business and anybody can start this type of business. As a matter of fact, you would not need any specially license or permit to run this type of business.

  1. Retailing of Tailoring Materials

There is a large market for tailoring materials, such as; sewing threads, nettles, buttons, linings, ribbons, safety pins et al. If you are looking near starting a retailing business, a place where there are tailoring activities, then you should consider opening a retail shop for tailoring materials. If this type of business is strategically located, then you are not going to struggle to attract customers.

  1. Retailing of Sunshades and Eye Glasses Frames

If you are tinkering with the idea of starting a retailing business, one of your options is to open a store where sunshades and eye glasses frames are sold. This type of business is simple to establish and of course it is a profitable business. But, just ensure that you choose a good location for the business and you wouldn’t struggle much to attract customers.

  1. Open a Perfume Store

Retailing of perfumes from different designers is yet another profitable retailing business venture that an entrepreneur can consider starting. This type of business is simple to start and it is also easy to manage. The major things you need to do to get the business running is to rent or lease a shop, and then stock up the shop with various designer perfumes.

Just like most retailing stores, location is key. If you are able to secure a good location perhaps in a busy market, you won’t struggle to make daily sales. As a matter of fact, if you can generate repeated sales from loyal customers; you will be able to meet their needs.

  1. Retailing of Call Cards

Aside from people that subscribe to post – paid plans for their mobile phones / GSM, most people buy call cards. Depending on the country you reside, there are several telecommunications companies that you can deal in their call cards.

Selling call cards is a simple, easy to establish retail business that does not require any skills. As a matter of fact, this type of business can thrive in any location as long as there are human traffics.

  1. Open a Restaurant

A restaurant business can be classified into retailing business, because in the true sense of it, foods and drinks are retailed to customers. If you are interested in the food industry and you are looking for a retailing business to start, then opening a restaurant is one of your options.

If your restaurant is well located, and you have tasty and assorted delicacies on your menu list, then you wouldn’t need struggle to make headway with the business.

  1. Start a Food Truck Business

Food truck business is yet another retailing business in the food industry. Unlike brick and mortar restaurant, food trucks are considered to be mobile restaurants. It is a cool way of making money and the business concept makes it easier for the owner to go to places that he or she perceives he can generate sales.

  1. Information Technology One–Stop–Shop

An IT one – stop – shop is one of the highly thriving retailing businesses that any IT inclined entrepreneur should consider starting. An IT one – stop – shop is place where people purchase their I.T. gadgets, download stuffs, buy computers and mobile phones, smartphones, accessories, repair their computers, mobile phones, cameras and other I.T. gadgets.

The truth is that if your I.T. shop is really a one stop shop, then you will always smile to the bank because you are sure going to attract loads of clients per day especially if your shop is centrally located in a busy city.

  1. Open a Seafood Mart

Another thriving and easy to establish business that an entrepreneur who is looking towards starting a retailing business is to open a seafood mart. Seafood such as prawns, crayfish, crabs, oysters, freshwater fish et al are highly marketable.

The truth is that people who know the nutritional value of seafood will go any length to source for it. So, if want to start a simple and easy to manage retailing business, then you should consider opening a seafood store in your neighborhood.

  1. Water Refill Station

If you live in a city where people find it difficult to access clean and portable water, then you should consider opening a water refill station. Water refill station is of course a retailing business; and it requires low running cost and it is indeed a profitable business.

  1. Open a Pet Shop

People who own pets go to pet shops to purchase food and supplies for their pets. A standard pet shop is a place where everything about pets are sold; a place where stuffs like pet foods, pet creams and washing soaps, dog chains, pets bedding, clothing et al are sold.

If you are looking towards starting a retail business, then you should consider opening a pet shop. Of course this type of business will thrive in places where people own pets.