Opening a store, restaurant or other customer-focused business in the real world is exciting. It’s a great chance to follow your dreams, work for yourself and to give your customers something different. You might have dreamed about it for a long time. But, it’s not the same as opening an online shop or business. You can’t just rush out, hire a building and open your store straight away. You have to take the time to fill it with the right stock and hire staff. But, there are plenty of other things that need to be on your to-do list. Things that you can’t afford to forget.
Health and Safety
If you are working in the real world and serving customers face to face, there may be health and safety considerations to take into account. You’ll need to make sure your building is code compliant and fire-safe, with help from https://www.sgspecialties.com/. You’ll need to carry out risk assessments and make sure any staff you employ are fully trained, in doing their jobs but also in health and safety. If you serve food, your kitchen will need to be inspected, and you’ll need to put food hygiene standards in place.
Licensing
You might know that if you are going to serve alcohol, you’ll need a licence. But, you’ll also need permits if you are going to play music in your store, or host live entertainment events. You’ll also need a license to screen sports or TV. If you are making changes to a building, you might need planning permission too. Think about the needs of your business, and apply for licences in plenty of notice. Remember, most of these licences will need renewing every year.
Registration
When you open any kind of business, you need to register it. You might need to register yourself as self-employed, your company to pay tax, and for VAT. What kind of registration you need depends on the nature of your business, but you can face a costly fine and even the loss of your business if you do it wrong.
Insurance
Your business needs insurance, and failing to get the right policies can leave you in trouble down the line. If you are working with the public, you need both general and public liability. You’ll need medical and workers compensation insurance, business insurance, and if your business has cars or vans, commercial vehicle insurance. You might also need to update your home policy if you keep stock or equipment at home.
Trademarking
The US Patent and Trademark Office has a primer on federal trademark registration, which you should take the time to read. Learn about different kinds of trademark, including trademarking any inventions and the name of your business. Generally, you have to pay for every category that you register your brand in, so make sure you budget for this.
Many of these factors, such as health and safety certification, alcohol laws and registration, will be different, depending on where your business is based. Spend some time researching local regulations or getting help from a business advisor.
