Does anyone know how difficult it would be to run a headshop? Is there anything I should know inpaticular?

I know there's a TON of stoners down here so I would'nt have a problem getting custumers.

To run? Pretty fucking easy, I used to work in one, basically you just sell ppl shit, make sure folks arent their stealing, and everyone is over 18, give em tobacco with the pipes, etc...

owning one is another thing

It's exactly the same as owning any other shops.
In a big city would be best.

Exactly. Take some entrepreneurial classes and you'll be set. I'm not sure if there are any licenses or anything behind selling 'tobacco' smoking paraphernalia. Just talk to someone at another head shop and get some pointers.

??? Not quite.

Starting any type of business is a lot of fucking work. A head shop is probably more of a headache to setup than a donut shop.

Running a business isn't as easy as putting 25 cents in a jar, handing out a cup of lemonade, and calling it a day whenever the fuck you want.

Anything in particular to know?
- Have good business partners
- Have a good lawyer
- And have a good fucking accountant

Turn your hobby into a career!

A decent location. If you find a place that's cheap to lease? Because it's in a dumbass location? Loser.

But a head shop is a shop of necessity. If it's the only one in the area, people will go to it no matter the location. Same with grocery stores, when you need milk you need milk, and when you need papers, you need papers.

Does anyone know how difficult it would be to run a headshop? Is there anything I should know inpaticular?

Invest several years into being the best amateur laywer you can be - and then get a real one.

But a head shop is a shop of necessity. If it's the only one in the area, people will go to it no matter the location. Same with grocery stores, when you need milk you need milk, and when you need papers, you need papers.

What? You're thinking of welfare cases & street meat?

People with more regular lives & cars can drive to a location that is convenient & has parking.

What? You're thinking of welfare cases & street meat?

People with more regular lives & cars can drive to a location that is convenient & has parking.

Yeah, I was actually :(

But there's no head shop in my town, the closest one is 20 minutes away and it's reallllyy overpriced and right beside the dirtiest place in town but people still go there 'cause they need to.

If you have a location, and 20,000 to drop into a possible failure, then go for it... but I will tell you, there are hundreds of bong stores EVERYWHERE, and you will need something to set you aside from the rest.

Also, bongs are fucking expensive, and you would want a FULL shop or else it would look unprofessional. A shit load of money would have to go into a beginner head shop.

??? Not quite.

Starting any type of business is a lot of fucking work. A head shop is probably more of a headache to setup than a donut shop.

Running a business isn't as easy as putting 25 cents in a jar, handing out a cup of lemonade, and calling it a day whenever the fuck you want.

Anything in particular to know?
- Have good business partners
- Have a good lawyer
- And have a good fucking accountant

He never said it wasn't a lot of work. He simply stated it's like any other business. Which is 100% correct. Same procedures, same protocol. You're just dealing with different merchindise.

Granted, different types of businesses are naturally going to have variables others don't. The biggest example is having insurance if the general public is going to be allowed on your property.

Like the other dude said, take a few classes in BUSINESS so you can get your head in the right place.

You don't need business partners (lol), or an accountant. (He's not trying to open a national chain. He just needs to know how to work a calculator and do inventory and have a basic understanding of cash flow analysis.

Having a good business lawyer isn't a bad idea, however.

Yeah, I was actually :(

But there's no head shop in my town, the closest one is 20 minutes away and it's reallllyy overpriced and right beside the dirtiest place in town but people still go there 'cause they need to.

I was thinking of a few I've been to. One is way off in a little strip mall that gets very little pedestrian traffic. It has a bar a few doors down & a bowling alley nearby. It's all houses/no multi-unit buildings in the area.

I imagine that it might break even.

Another one has a little foot traffic, but no parking. They both seem kind of quiet.

A business needs deep pockets to start too. People need to learn of it & it takes time for people to even remember that it's there. The owner needs to be able to not make a profit for at least a year if not longer.

That means able to pay all costs with only a fraction coming from the store. If you go broke before you've had a chance to build up a clientele? What's the use?

The owner needs to be able to not make a profit for at least a year if not longer.

”According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, over 50% of small businesses fail in the first year and 95% fail within the first five years.” United States Small Business Association"

”According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, over 50% of small businesses fail in the first year and 95% fail within the first five years.” United States Small Business Association"

And I think that besides having a poor business plan/bad management, not having the deep pockets is high up on the "Cause of Failure" list.

People do up a bunch of coke or otherwise get caught up in their fantasy of being their own boss. Then they get a big shit-eating grin with the thought of being their own boss & logic & reality fly out the window.

I'd think the 1st thing to do: work in a head shop. Even part-time. Many are open late. If you're that interested: make time to work in one. Pretty hard to learn about them just from getting high & fantasizing or shopping in them.

I'd think the 1st thing to do: work in a head shop. Even part-time. Many are open late. If you're that interested: make time to work in one. Pretty hard to learn about them just from getting high & fantasizing or shopping in them.

This is great, great advice. It applies to any business. If you want to learn how that business works, get some inside advice, maybe even meet some vendors/distributers while you're there to get some business connections, then working in the line of work you're looking to do business in is the smartest thing you can do.

School and classes are great, but are poor substitutes for actual first-hand knowledge and experience.

MoonMeister knows his stuff.

I forgot to mention before, that you should go around to all of the bong shop in your area and surrounding area and take a look at some of the merch. You will pretty much be able to tell which bongs were made by one person, and you can ask them about their supplier... Bong shops are pretty friendly people, so I wouldn't worry about them thinking you are going to be stepping on their toes, so tell them that this isn't your intentions. Tell them simply that you are looking to getting into the business out of town, and are looking for a few good glass suppliers at decent prices, and then ask what they have to say... they will most likely give you a name and/or a number.

The biggest sellers are the glass bongs... people break them ALL the time, there are probably 5 glass bongs broken in your town everyday!! :o plus the mark-up on large glass pieces like that is great, so you could start turning a decent profit right away.

The absolute MOST IMPORTANT! thing about starting your business is location, look into train routes, close highway exits, nearby restaurants, park, and most importantly, make sure there is no way to easily get to a bong shop from your desired business location, this is a must.

Another thing. If you are going to open this place, you have got to make sure you are doing it, invest some cash in glass and location, and then over a grand in printing, and no joke, this will increase your business by 10 fold on the first opening days. Don't skimp out on good printing either, get a professional to do it, make thousands of very nice looking business card, very good looking matching 8x11 posters which you PLASTER your town in (with the towns permission of course) make the posters be 5-10% off so that your town isn't littered for months, the stoners will grab up the deal and will in turn draw more customers... make sure all these posters are out on the street early, like, a month before you open. Also, have a poster in the front window of the shop (if you have one) that says something about what the store will be, and a scary huge sign on the front would be a great thing to have up early.

I hope this aided a bit...

if your really thinking about it, post this thread in that forum about... money.. :)

What? You're thinking of welfare cases & street meat?

People with more regular lives & cars can drive to a location that is convenient & has parking.

And who are the ones smoking more weed, huh asshole?

And who are the ones smoking more weed, huh asshole?

Get back to skid row punkie. There are sweet rocks calling your punk ass.

Get back to skid row punkie. There are sweet rocks calling your punk ass.

Don't insult me because youre wrong motherfucker!

You make me laugh li'l punkie. :)

Instead of resorting to childish name calling, why not back up either of your two claims with facts, numbers, and evidence? (directed at both of you)

RBAY, nigger ;)

Don't skimp out on good printing either, get a professional to do it, make thousands of very nice looking business card, very good looking matching 8x11 posters which you PLASTER your town in (with the towns permission of course) make the posters be 5-10% off so that your town isn't littered for months, the stoners will grab up the deal and will in turn draw more customers... make sure all these posters are out on the street early, like, a month before you open. Also, have a poster in the front window of the shop (if you have one) that says something about what the store will be, and a scary huge sign on the front would be a great thing to have up early.

These seem like kickass ideas, OP.

While clientele demographics may vary with location. Why would any reasonable person think that welfare/street-meat or the homeless would be one's usual customers? Unless you think providing shoplifters with their goods is a good service to provide?

Can you picture sweet bag ladies with $100 Bongs in their carts? "Hey! Buddy! You can have my cart...but don't take my Booonnngggg! My sweet Big Ben Bong!"

Yeah, I was actually :(

But there's no head shop in my town, the closest one is 20 minutes away and it's reallllyy overpriced and right beside the dirtiest place in town but people still go there 'cause they need to.

where u izis?? i'm a young business entrepreneur and would soon set up a shop when i have some money :D

Thanks for all the helpfull replies.I'm going to try and save up as much as I can for this.I'll probably have a friend to help me with this too.

If I get the shop going, Would it be a good idea to make a website for selling products?

Put that bitch in the mall if you have one in your town.

where u izis?? i'm a young business entrepreneur and would soon set up a shop when i have some money :D

St. Marys Ontario, Stratford Ontario is where the headshop is. It's a balls headshop too.

It's the same as running any retail store. No different then selling shirts and shit. You need a warehouse that will allow you to wholesale, you need a wholesaling license or you need to buy the items and rape the customers for their money in regards to the items actual worth.

You need to know how to manage all your finances / have the finances to pay someone to do that. You may need employees, you will need a location. You will need a variety of products from low to top end(this means you will be dropping 1000's of dollars on bongs and shit). You're also going to need to register with the government and the like.

Mercy: It's not beside the dirtiest place in town, it's beside the dirtiest TWO places. Not to mention one of those places is full of faggots on a constant basis. Are you down with courtney? I don't think the two of you have gotten to know each other well but I think you should, and she has "mad chedda/ mozzarella" currently so we may be able to cab up to you. We've only got weed sadly but the alcohol was good last night. :)

Mercy: It's not beside the dirtiest place in town, it's beside the dirtiest TWO places. Not to mention one of those places is full of faggots on a constant basis. Are you down with courtney? I don't think the two of you have gotten to know each other well but I think you should, and she has "mad chedda/ mozzarella" currently so we may be able to cab up to you. We've only got weed sadly but the alcohol was good last night. :)

Ahah, Twice the Dirt and the Dirt Center. Oh I love Stratford. Plus it's like within a few blocks of almost every 'major' weed dealer in town. I was talking to the guys in High Times in London though and they were like 'Buffy's is hella overpriced'.

I only met her like once but she seems chills. Come like during the week (Sunday through Thursday) and then we can all chill at my house instead of in the cold or in that bathroom haha.

Start-up capital: have as much money available as possible, but don't spend it. Suppliers can usually work of credit, and your business can teach them how to wait for their payment. If they push for their money, remember that incorporation can protect you from debts run up by your business. This is where a _really fucking good_ motherfucking jew accountant is good.

Police: Is there a police benevolent thingy in your neighbourhood? Shmooze the local pigs as much as possible, you can never be too fucking safe. Send all your utility people lots of presents at every opportunity, because they can help out.

Delay payment of bills as long as possible, remember to pay your taxes and stuff. Don't expect to make any money in your first year, remember to have nerves of steel, and sell both to cost-conscious consumers and high spending consumers.

Economics has an idea of a "consumer surplus", which is the economic benefit that happens when people pay less for a good than they were prepared to pay. In other words the consumer surplus is what happens when people get a bargain. As a business it is your role to act to minimise the consumer surplus in order to maximise profits, but if you push too far you will lose sales and your profits will suffer.

Some advice - most incorporated businesses are created as a legal convenience, to protect another person or business from legal or financial liability arising out of the operation of that business. As a result the failure rate of new businesses is masssively inflated. Some people create a new business every year.

Iv always wanted to start up a small business on and offline selling legal highs and stuff but the one thing that's stopped me progressing the idea was all the legal stuff behind it if I wanted it to be a legit business.