How to Become a Christian Bookstore Owner
Running a bookstore is a dream for many people who love to read, learn and discuss books. Despite all the advances of computers, the Internet and electronic book readers, there is no substitute for a book with rich text between its pages. The desire to become a Christian bookstore owner may stem from a love of Scripture and sharing God's message. Alternatively, you may want to open your own bookstore because you cannot find books that interest you in your area, and know others who sense this lack as well. Regardless of your reasons, becoming a Christian bookstore owner may be the way to surround yourself with the books you love and bring a unique market to your community.
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Instructions
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Decide on the types of Christian books you want to sell and the size of your inventory. Like big-name bookstores, a Christian bookstore can offer books, gifts and food. Independent bookstores also have the option to not appeal to the masses and sell books just for children, teens and adults; for Bible study purposes; and/or to those trying to find rare books.
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Create a business plan. Your business plan is an outline of your goal as a Christian bookstore owner and provides details of how you will achieve your goal. The plan will discuss your target audience, how much money you will need to open a bookstore, and how much money you expect to make. Creating a business plan will also help you create a budget and keep tabs on your progress in becoming a Christian bookstore owner.
When thinking about how much money you will need to open a bookstore, consider the costs of rent, utilities, insurance, inventory, employees, workers compensation, benefits, and advertising.
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Find a visible location for the bookstore, like one on a main road that has a high-volume of foot traffic and/or auto traffic. A bookstore that is tucked away in a neighborhood that is not well known or in the middle of a noisy industrial area will go unnoticed by the public and will not create much interest in the community. A highly visible location for a bookstore will not only attract the locals, but also individuals passing through your town.
When selecting the prime location for your bookstore, consider placing it in an area that is close to many churches, in a popular strip mall or in a busy shopping center. In addition, make sure the parking lot for your store is easily accessible from the road and has ample parking.
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Obtain licenses and permits. You will at least need a business license to operate a bookstore. If you plan to sell food at your location, you will also need to obtain a permit from the county health department. Because requirements vary from location to location, check with your city, county and state government offices to find out what licenses and permits your establishment will need.
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Fill your store's shelves with Christian books. Arrange the books in a way that make sense. For example, group Bibles together in one location, children's books in another, and so on. Once the shelves are stocked and you open your doors for business, you are officially a Christian bookstore owner.
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References
- Photo Credit Bookstore image by TekinT from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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I saw a Christian Book Store going out of business. I stopped, I stared and I thought, Lord what are we doing? When we cannot support your word, but sports bars and clubs are standing room only it's time we take a stand.
