How to Open a Smoke Shop in Brunswick Georgia
Smoke shops allow shoppers to find all their smoking needs in a single location. Smoke shops carry traditional tobacco products such as cigars, pipes and tobacco as well as unconventional supplies including rolling papers, hookahs and pipes and the flavored juices that people like to smoke in them. A person who opens a smoke shop in the tourist town of Brunswick, Ga., may find an appreciative clientele among the town's residents and visitors.
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Instructions
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Choose a location for your smoke shop. The main shopping districts of Brunswick include the downtown-Newcastle district and the Norwich shopping area. You may want to locate your store away from the attention of crowds, families and teens, because some smoke shops sell adult items, and individuals can use some of the smoking paraphernalia that a smoke shop sells for illegal activities as well as legal smoking.
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Decide on a name for the smoke shop and register it with the Georgia Secretary of State. You can register your smoke shop's name online.
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Buy fixtures for the store. You'll need glass display cases, drawers, a cash register and shelves. Set up a merchant account at the bank that will allow your business to accept payments by credit or debit cards. Have the utilities turned on.
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Submit your Zoning Certification Request (see resources) for zoning approval to the Glynn County Planning and Zoning Division. The Glynn County zoning board administers zoning issues within Brunswick. The Glynn County Planning Commission will review the application and, if the application conforms to the Glynn County Ordinance, will forward it to the County Commission for zoning approval.
Glynn County Planning and Zoning Division
700 Gloucester St., Suite 200
Brunswick, GA 31520
912-554-7428
ga-glynncounty.civicplus.com
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Obtain a license from Glynn County to register the smoke shop as a business. Complete the occupation tax registration and pay the occupation taxes as well as an administrative fee of $28.00.
Glynn County
700 Gloucester St., Suite 200
Brunswick, GA 31520
912-554-7428
ga-glynncounty.civicplus.com
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Register the business with the IRS to begin paying federal taxes on the employees' earnings (including the owners). Register the business with the Georgia Department of Revenue to begin paying state taxes. State taxes for a smoke shop will include taxes on employees' earnings, alcohol and tobacco tax and sales taxes on all sales.
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Stock your merchandise. Wholesalers for smoke shops can provide you with all necessary items to stock in the smoke shop. Some items you'll want to consider selling include loose tobacco, rolling papers, cigars and cigarillos, cigarettes and cloves, assorted pipes and water pipes, hookahs and lighters. Also, think about selling accessories such as padded holders for glass pipes and ashtrays. Some smoke shops also sell legal herbal buds for smoking in water pipes and hookahs.
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Set up an accounting system for the smoke shop. Request a tax attorney or a Certified Public Accountant to assist the process of setting up the smoke shop's accounting system so that it adheres to all federal, state and municipal laws and regulations.
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Market the smoke shop. Establish a website and place advertisements in tourist publications and smokers' magazines as well as on websites that cater to smokers.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit cigar image by PaulPaladin from Fotolia.com
