If you want to start a liquidation business in the United States, you can spend between $30,000 and $200,000 or more depending on the niche (type), size, and whether or not you want to operate from a storefront or a warehouse facility.
To start a liquidation business, certain factors can influence the overall cost of starting the business. Some of the factors are universal, while some are unique to the location you want to start your liquidation business.
A liquidation business is a business that specializes in buying and reselling surplus or excess merchandise from retailers, wholesalers, or manufacturers.
Although most liquidation businesses are involved in retailing different types of merchandise, but there is an increase in office liquidation businesses.
Factors That Determine the Cost of Opening a Liquidation Business
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The Cost of Lease or Rent
The amount you will spend in renting or leasing a store facility is indeed significant. Interestingly, the size of the store or warehouse facility you want to lease, the location of the store facility or warehouse facility, and the additional facility (heating, parking, security et al) that comes with the lease agreement will determine the amount you will spend.
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The Cost of Registering the Business and Obtaining the Needed Licenses and Permits
As expected, if you are looking to start any business in the United States, you will be required to obtain the needed business licenses and permits such as a:
General business license, health and safety permit, zonal permit, signage permit, resale permit, and operational state facility inspections before you can legally start and operate the business.
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The Cost of Start-Up Inventory or Working Capital (Trading Capital)
There is no fixed amount you are expected to spend when it comes to stocking up your warehouse or the working capital (trading capital) you need to purchase liquidated merchandise.
As expected, you should make plans for inventories such as office furniture, office equipment, and any other goods you intend to purchase and retail.
Note that giving an estimate of the initial inventory cost or working capital (trading capital) can be challenging, but it is important to stock enough merchandise to attract customers while staying within your budget.
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The Cost of Employing Workers
You can start a liquidation business as a one-man business. But if you want to open a standard liquidation business, then you should make plans to employ workers that will work with you.
You should plan to hire a merchandise or procurement manager, store or warehouse manager, accountant (cashier), administrative assistant, and sales girl or salesboy.
Trust me, employee wages such as recruitment fees, training, salaries, and any additional costs like payroll taxes, benefits, and worker’s compensation insurance et al is a major cost that usually influences the overall cost of starting a business.
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Operational Expenses
Interestingly, the size of your liquidation business, the number of workers you want to employ, and of course the additional services you want to offer in your liquidation business will determine the amount you should budget.
Note that your operational expenses are part of your ongoing expenses and they include utilities, maintenance, accounting software, security, software systems for inventory management, point-of-sale (POS) systems, customer relationship management (CRM), and other ongoing expenses associated with running a retail business.
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Additional Services Offering
A liquidation business is expected to buy and sell merchandise such as a wide range of toy and hobby goods, office furniture, office equipment, and any other goods you intend to purchase and retail, but standard liquidation businesses usually offer additional services.
A standard liquidation business can conveniently provide various services including repair of electronics, equipment, and furniture, and delivery services as well.
These services will attract more cost of opening the business because you are expected to put structures and processes in place to make it happen.
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Miscellaneous Expenses
Miscellaneous expenses refer to costs that do not fall into specific categories but are still necessary for the operation of a business. These expenses can vary depending on the nature of the business and individual circumstances.
For a liquidation business, your miscellaneous expenses can cover professional services (such as accounting, legal assistance, and possibly repair services), expenses related to shipping products to customers or suppliers and postage for mailing documents or packages, and also costs associated with office supplies, packaging materials, credit card processing fees, internet and phone services, and professional memberships et al.