Your business: open a bookstore

* The calculations use the average data for the World

Bookselling business: pros and cons, development prospects

About 10-15 years ago, the book business in our country experienced its heyday. The number of bookstores of various formats and sizes increased at times, every year new publishers, including highly specialized ones, opened. However, over the past few years, the situation has changed dramatically. The main unfavorable trends for the book business, noted by experts, are the loss of interest in reading (our nation has turned from "the most reading" to "almost not reading" in a matter of time), the predominance of purely commercial projects, which publishers invest a lot of effort and money but which cannot compete with "real" literature, the transition of a small reading audience from print media to electronic devices (tablets, telephones, e-books). There is one more negative factor, which, however, affects not only the book business, but also other types of activities related to copyright - it is piracy. Most publications, even new items, can be easily downloaded on the Internet. For the reader, this does not play a significant role, but for publishers and sellers, piracy is associated with significant material losses. The fact is that initially the circulation of the book and the number of copies purchased by stores depends on the study of the audience - the quality and number of potential readers. Not so often, the person who first read the electronic version goes to the store for the print one. Accordingly, sales of even a good book often turn out to be much lower than originally planned.

One more trend that is unfavorable for ordinary bookstores can be noted - this is an increase in the popularity of online bookstores with which it is difficult to compete with "traditional" outlets (we are talking primarily about such "giants" as Ozon and Labirint). The main reason for the popularity of online stores is the low prices, which are achieved by saving on rental space, as well as on special preferential conditions for working with publishers. Additional benefits include the ability to view detailed photographs of books on offer and read reviews from other customers. This compensates for the inability to see the book live, which is provided by ordinary stores. There is a flip side to such a dubious advantage: books that are repeatedly scanned but not bought in a regular bookstore quickly lose their presentation.

In connection with all of the above, can we conclude that the bookselling business in our country has completely exhausted itself? Experts believe that not everything is so bad. For many reading enthusiasts, buying a special e-book reader is too much of a luxury. And someone (especially middle-aged and older people) cannot get used to paper books and prefers them to “soulless” technology. In addition, publishers are trying to follow changes in demand and prefer books that are difficult or even impossible to read electronically. These include, for example, gift editions, children's literature in expensive design, educational books for children, school books, etc.

We open our bookstore: we choose the format, room and equipment

So, if you still decide to start your own book business, first decide on the format of your store and assortment. Familiar to us from childhood stores with shelves full of books, and sellers who give visitors the literature of interest to them, have long been outdated. Only self-service outlets have chances to survive in this difficult market, where buyers can spend a lot of time choosing books, browsing each of them, reading annotations. The previously popular large stores, which in size resemble libraries rather, are also a bit of a thing of the past. However, the point here is not at all the preferences of the buyers, but the economic feasibility: it will be very difficult to recoup the high cost of rent.

In addition, the question arises of the need for a wide range in one store. With all your desire, you still can’t compete in this matter with online stores that don’t spend money on renting retail space and can sell a huge number of publications on various topics and price categories.

It is best to start with a small outlet with a certain specialization. This can be fiction, the demand for which is relatively stable, and, for example, good books for children and adolescents or a wider range of the most popular publications. Some stores sell only comics, others specialize in literature in foreign languages, detective stories, or serial editions. True, the narrow specialization option is suitable only for large cities with a population of over a million people.

In a small town you will not find a sufficient number of buyers, so it will be difficult to recoup such a project. The only format suitable for small settlements is the sale of textbooks for schoolchildren (mainly) and students. Textbooks are always in demand, so there will be no shortage of buyers. Moreover, you can sell not only new books, but also organize the reception and sale of used textbooks.

What are the requirements for the store itself? In this case, the general requirements for the location of any outlet are valid: convenient location in places of mass congestion of buyers. But you should not hurry to rent an area in a shopping center. Although the level of patency there is really very high, but the audience there is not at all yours, and the cost of rent will make your store unprofitable. The same is true for supermarkets with the only difference being that they are also partly your competitors, since their range includes, among other things, printed products, and at much lower prices than you can imagine let it.

The average bookstore area is 30 to 50 square meters. meters. On this area you can place a fairly large assortment, because books do not take up much space, and the use of compact shelving allows you to free up a lot of space. Renting a spacious area does not make sense: no matter how you try to cover the largest possible number of items, you still can not compete with online stores. Pay particular attention to the interior of the store. Of course, no one expects design delights from you, but it should be cozy and comfortable. The walls of the store can be decorated, for example, with posters with illustrations for famous works. Such decor costs practically nothing, but it looks harmonious and attracts attention.

Pleasant soft lighting, proper arrangement of shelving and convenient grouping of books by genres, authors and other classifiers. Remember that many buyers do not like or are embarrassed to seek help from the seller, so you need to provide them with the opportunity to independently search for the right book. The height of the shelves should not be too large, otherwise your visitors will not reach the upper shelves, but the lower shelves are best made closed and used to store books, and not as a display case, so as not to force your customers to squat down to consider what interests them a book. In addition to shelving, hinged panels, cabinets, slides, turntables, as well as the cashier’s workplace, which is usually located behind the counter, may also be required. The counter is best placed along one of the walls of the store to save space. If the area allows, put comfortable benches near the shelves so that visitors can comfortably choose the publications they need.

Another significant item of expenditure is anti-theft equipment. Losses from theft in the book trade can reach 5%: it is easy to hide the book in a bag or under clothes and take it out of the store. Anti-theft gate will cost 80-100 thousand rubles, and consumables for them (anti-theft sensors - labels) cost from 1600 rubles per 1000 pieces. You will also need a cash register that works with the scanner. This technique will significantly increase the speed and level of customer service. One of the main nuances is keeping records of books in special computer programs designed for the book business and working on the basis of 1C. These programs will allow you to control balances and quickly find books of interest to buyers in the database. This is especially true with a large assortment, but even in a small store you will save a lot of time and effort.

Legal form: IP or LLC

Decide on the legal form of doing business. If you plan to do business on your own, but you can choose the option of individual entrepreneurship (IP). If you open a business with partners, then give preference to a limited liability company. In both cases there are advantages and disadvantages.

Compare IP and LLC for key points. The fee for registering an IP is about 1000 rubles. An IP is registered only for one person at his place of residence. IP can not be sold or reissued. It can only be closed. IP does not keep accounting records, but must keep a book of accounting for income and expenses. If you plan to work with large companies, then the form of IP may be less preferable: such partners are reluctant to cooperate with entrepreneurs, considering them less reliable. The individual entrepreneur freely manages the proceeds and does not have to pay dividend tax. But he bears administrative responsibility, is equated to an official, and the maximum fine is 50, 000 rubles. The entrepreneur is liable for obligations with all his property, even after the closure of the IP. The types of reporting available to an individual entrepreneur are tax reporting to extra-budgetary funds. The entrepreneur can manage the funds in the current account in the account at will. There are certain restrictions on activities, but bookstores do not apply to them.

For registration of a limited liability company you will have to pay 4000 rubles. A company can be registered for two or more participants at the legal address of the head office. LLC can be sold or reissued. The company conducts accounting, which entails additional costs for an accountant, but for other partner companies, LLC looks more solid. The director, receiving the proceeds, must pay a dividend tax of 9%. The founders bear administrative responsibility for the debts and obligations of their company within the authorized capital. The maximum fine for an LLC is 1, 000, 000 rubles. After the liquidation of the LLC, its obligations also terminate. Types of reporting for LLC - tax reporting to extra-budgetary funds. You can withdraw funds from the LLC’s settlement account only for certain purposes or to pay dividends with tax deduction of 9%, so this is not as profitable as in the case of individual entrepreneurs. For a limited liability company there are no restrictions on activities.

So, it is worth giving preference to IP if you are not sure that things will go uphill (IP is easier and much cheaper to close), if you work independently, without partners, if your customers are mainly individuals. It is advisable to register an LLC if you are starting a business with one or more partners, if you plan to engage in activities that are not available to individual entrepreneurs, if your activity involves constant work with legal entities (government agencies, foreign organizations).

When registering, you will need to indicate the types of activities that you plan to engage in, according to OKVED:

52.47 Retail sale of books, magazines, newspapers, stationery and stationery;

08/18/2019 Retail sale of books.

This grouping does not include:

- retail sale of second-hand and antique books, see 08/18/2019, 08/18/2019;

- retail trade in literary, educational, etc. publications on technical media, see 08/18/2019.

08/18/2019 Retail sale of newspapers and magazines;

This group also includes the retail sale of other printed matter.

08/18/2019 Retail sale of stationery and stationery.

This group also includes the retail sale of school supplies.

The room chosen for the bookstore must also comply with sanitary and fire regulations. In the latter case, there are certain nuances, since paper products are classified as flammable.

Fire safety requirements for bookstores.

4.1. Shops and bases of book trade.

08/18/2019. Temporary storage of containers with books, waste and packaging is not allowed in trading floors and on evacuation routes. Waste and packaging should be disposed of daily as they accumulate.

08/18/2019. It is forbidden to store goods with increased fire hazard (oil paints, mascara, photographic films) together with other goods. For their storage in the store and in the warehouse should be allocated a special room (pantry).

08/18/2019. At the book trade enterprises it is forbidden:

08/18/2019.1. To operate cars, auto-loaders and other vehicles with internal combustion engines that are not equipped with spark arrestors on the premises.

08/18/2019.2. To operate freight elevators in case of disturbed enclosing structures of the vestibule locks.

08/18/2019.3. Carry out hot work while people are in the trading floors.

08/18/2019.4. Place slot machines, photocopying areas and other workshops on evacuation routes, in vestibules and stairwell areas, as well as trade.

08/18/2019.5. Trade in fire hazardous goods during the placement of trading enterprises in buildings for other purposes.

08/18/2019. In multi-storey bookstores, departments (sections) selling light-combustible and fire-hazardous goods (paints, mascara, plastic and synthetic materials, etc.) should be placed in the upper floors.

08/18/2019. In bookstores with a large number of buyers, goods should be delivered to sections (to workplaces) if there are no buyers on the trading floor.

08/18/2019. During working hours, loading of goods and unloading of containers should be done from the back of the store, so as not to impede the exit of buyers from the trading floors.

When selling goods of high demand in a store, as well as during the period of subscription issuance, the administration must restrict the entry of people into trading floors.

08/18/2019. Glazed partitions installed in the warehouses to enclose the workplaces of commodity experts, storekeepers, rejectors, tellers and operators should not impede the evacuation of people, as well as inventory items in case of fire.

08/18/2019. It is forbidden to store goods in the premises through which transit electric cables pass, as well as with gas lines and oil-filled equipment.

08/18/2019. In the premises intended for storage of inventory items, the installation of change houses, rooms for eating and other utility services is not allowed.

08/18/2019. The order of entry of vehicles into the territory of warehouses, bases and bookstores, the number of its simultaneous location, parking lots, as well as access control and in-house mode are determined by the enterprise administration.

Purchase and delivery of goods

If you prefer the universal assortment, then it should include books on the following topics: books for children (fiction and developmental literature), educational books for schools and universities and business literature, fiction books for adults (including in the pocket format), books for women on cooking, parenting, floriculture, needlework, etc., books for men about fishing, hunting, wine, etc., non-fiction, gift editions. Before forming the assortment, study the ratings of the most popular books (you can find them on the sites of large online stores) and order them. Books can be purchased both at wholesale companies and directly from publishers. At purchase prices, the latter option is more profitable, but large publishers (namely, they have the most “untwisted” new items) have too few minimal lots for a small bookstore. Therefore, it is best to take running positions from wholesalers, and the most interesting publications directly from publishers. When purchasing educational literature should be guided by generally accepted educational standards.

The trade margin on literature is 1.8–2.0, depending on the wholesale price and the average price level in the city. Try to get the biggest discounts from your suppliers. В этом случае вы сможете поднять торговую наценку до 2, 3-2, 5. Как правило, при долгосрочном сотрудничестве и своевременных оплатах договориться о более существенных скидках не представляет труда. В книготорговле, как и в других сферах, действует основное правило: чем дешевле товар, тем больше на него наценка.

Набираем персонал

На небольшой магазин площадью около 40-50 кв. метров, который работает, к примеру, с 9 утра до 20 вечера, потребуется минимум четыре продавца, а также управляющий, товаровед/менеджер по закупкам. Функции последних двух специалистов владелец магазина может взять на себя. А продавцы – это наемные работники с графиком 2 рабочих дня и 2 выходных. Главный плюс мелких торговых точек – найти индивидуальный подход к каждому посетителю. Обычные книжные магазины постепенно приобретают вид книжных клубов, где можно приобрести заинтересовавшую книгу. Но это предполагает определенные требования к продавцам. Они должны быть образованными и начитанными, любить литературу, разбираться в последних тенденциях, знать все новинки. Найти таких специалистов совсем непросто, так как уровень заработной платы продавцов книжного магазина не особо высокий.

Расходы и доходы: что можно получить от книжного магазина?

Книжный бизнес подвержен сезонности. Покупательная активность приходится на период с начала осени до новогодних праздников. Многие покупатели до сих пор руководствуются принципом, что «книга – лучший подарок». А вот с марта по июль не стоит ожидать хороших продаж, если только ваш магазин не расположен в курортном городе.

Для открытия книжного магазина потребуется от 450 тысяч рублей. Большая часть этих средств пойдет на аренду площади под магазин, покупку торгового оборудования, нейминг, разработку логотипа. Можно также выбрать вариант франчайзинга, который предлагается многими крупными книготорговыми компаниями. Этот вариант особенно выгоден для начинающих предпринимателей, которые пока не могут грамотно сформировать ассортимент, продвинуть новую марку, выбрать свой собственный формат работы.

Книжный бизнес носит сезонный формат. Наибольшим спросом книги и учебные пособия пользуются в период с августа по май. Затем наблюдается затишье, если речь не идет о точках, расположенных на курортах.

Sysoeva Lilia

(c) www.clogicsecure.com - портал бизнес-планов и руководств по открытию малого бизнеса

08/18/2019


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