Looking into retail Liquor store

[wineguruchgo]

Hello WTOB,

Welcome to the wine board. With respect of how much money it will take, I'm not sure. Too many variables to consider. If this is something you want to do and you can get the license than go for it. I can't help you with the approx. cost of space and build out.

Yet - what I can offer is that we (my company) opened a restaurant here in IL. in September. We have an 80 bottle list of mostly mid-range wines. Stocking the wines and bar cost us approx. $6,000.00. I'm thinking you will need at least $20K to stock the shelves of the store. I'm probably being conservative here. It really depends on what you are bringing in and how much space you have to fill. No one wants to visit a store with 1/2 empty shelves.

Also, please bear in mind that here in IL, beer is COD. Wine and Liquor bills are due within 30 days, whether or not you sell the product, so you will need to cover the opening order because you are not going to sell all of it within the first 4 weeks.

You need to contact the distributors in your area, after you secure the space and license, and fill out a credit application. If your credit is "iffy" then they may not extend it to you and all will be COD.

There are a lot of variables here, but it's not the worst business to open espically if there is a need for it in your area.

If I can be of more help with the distributor side, just ask.

WGC