How to Open an RV Supply Store
Recreational Vehicle supplies stores can be a profitable small business, but you will need to plan carefully to ensure that your business succeeds. You will want to start with a clear understanding of your market and your competition and then make sure that you have access to suppliers who can meet your needs.
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Instructions
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Open your own recreational vehicle supply store
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Research and write your business plan. Develop a business plan. Your plan should include a description of your business, the market for your products, a description of your competition, and your financial plan. To describe your market you will want to include the number of RV owners in your area, the number of RV clubs and the number of sales documented in your area. You can find much of this information from your state's association of recreational vehicles and campgrounds; for example, the Michigan association documented 8,718 units sold in 2009. You will want to include specifics about other RV supply stores in your area so that you can show that there is a need for your RV store. You can learn more about the competition by checking the RV parts and accessories dealers directory at RVUSA.com.
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Raise capital for your business Raise capital for your business. You will need to have enough money set aside to keep your business running until you earn a profit. To estimate your costs you will want to check prices on websites like RV Wholesalers and retailers like Campingworld. For example, in 2010 a wholesale travel trailer cover which cost $186.99 wholesale was selling for $222.00 retail. You can use savings or other investments, or use your business plan to attract investors to your RV supply store.
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Find inventory for your store. Find inventory for your store. You will need to decide if you are going to concentrate solely on supplies for recreational vehicles or if you want to carry other camping goods. Take the time to research online RV suppliers and visit some of your competitor's stores. You can find online RV suppliers at the RVUSA directory, or RVresources.com. Once you have an idea of what inventory will make your store stand out from the competition, price your supplies at a wholesaler like RVwholesalers.
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Choose the right location for our store. Choose the right location for your store. Check the locations of large competing stores like Campingworld. You want to choose a location that is not too close to competition, but is accessible to your market of recreational vehicle enthusiasts. You can find locations of RV clubs at RVClubs-US. Your customers may want to drive their RVs to your store, so you will want to find a location with enough parking, so look for a site that is outside the city center. RV supply stores work well in either the suburbs or in rural areas as long as they are accessible. Remember, your customers love the open road, so your store will be most successful if it is visible from a major highway and near a convenient offramp.
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Finalize the permits for your store. Finalize the permits you need for your store. You may need state and local business licenses, sellers permits, employer identification numbers or more, depending on the state in which you are opening your store. You can learn which permits and licenses you will need from the MyOwnBusiness website. Also check to see if there are laws and regulations specific to your state that will effect the kinds of products and services you will choose to provide. For example, You can find the different state rules for braking requirements for towed vehicles at home-roadrunner.com. Now that you have mastered these important details you are ready to open your own RV supply store!
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- Photo Credit rv image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com rv, image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com motorcoach,motorhome,rv image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com camping image by Colin Buckland from Fotolia.com Travel image by CSlade from Fotolia.com business image by peter Hires Images from Fotolia.com
