Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13
  1. #1
    BANNED



    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Posts
    349
    Country

    Initial start up costs for a card shop

    Debating someone. I said $100,000 is a safe number to start a sports card shop. My buddy says $60,000. I am almost certain $60,000 isn't even enough for inventory of cards. Would love some insight on who is right or close to right. Thanks!

  2. #2




    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    2,568
    SCF Rewards
    1,114
    Country

    I'd say maybe $15k depending on what you want to sell- $5k of that would be your actual start up costs (rent, deposits,etc), $5k in displays (MAYBE) and $5k in merch

  3. #3







    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    51,074
    SCF Rewards
    6,959
    Country

    Probably depends on what you want for inventory for singles. Before shops use to have a great selection and massive inventory but since the glory days I haven't seen or even heard about many that have a great inventory that you could spend hours going through.
    Selling All My Cards Here------>Hidden Content

    Baseball Autograph and Game Used Only Trade Page: pwaldo.webs.com/
    //s123.photobucket.com/albums/o299/pwaldo/

  4. #4
    BANNED



    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Posts
    349
    Country

    I'd say maybe $15k depending on what you want to sell- $5k of that would be your actual start up costs (rent, deposits,etc), $5k in displays (MAYBE) and $5k in merch

    What? 5k wont even get me half of one year for one sport.


    Probably depends on what you want for inventory for singles. Before shops use to have a great selection and massive inventory but since the glory days I haven't seen or even heard about many that have a great inventory that you could spend hours going through.

    I know if I was actually gonna open a shop, I wouldn't do much with singles. Not to start at least but it's an idea. I'm just saying standard buying and selling product.

  5. #5




    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    121
    SCF Rewards
    450
    Country
    See juggernautjake137's Items on eBay

    Obviously, the more capital, the better. But, if you're talking bare minimum? I think it depends how you are approaching it. Can you buy product by the case? Are you selling all sports or specializing? Selling other collectibles as well? Don't forget supplies. Display cases are nice. And be ready to work lots of hours since employees are your biggest cost.
    Will you be listing items on ebay during downtime and shipping form there? Where is your location and how much is rent/lease? Oh yeah, you wanna advertise? At least selling at regional card shows? Want your own website. Those are pretty sweet, if not a headache.

    After thinking about all that, I'd say the safer estimate would be at least $50,000 to get you started. Remember, most businesses don't show a profit for 5 years on average. Right now, the collectible market is down, so you can and should stock up on inventory because it's a buyer's market. That also means stuff is selling cheaper, including most of your own inventory.

  6. #6




    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    121
    SCF Rewards
    450
    Country
    See juggernautjake137's Items on eBay

    Thinking about it some more, You're probably right about needing closer to $100,000 to have somewhat of a cushion.

    If you open one up, come out swingin' and make it rockin' with box breaks and other innovative and interactive ideas. We old school collectors would eat that $@&% up and maybe it would bring in some of the younger collectors.

  7. #7
    BANNED



    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Posts
    174
    Country

    To really get started, try to include in initial overhead an extra ~$10,000 for a local(-ish) athlete to have a signing session at your store for a Grand Opening.

  8. #8
    Advisor





    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Age
    34
    Posts
    6,694
    SCF Rewards
    10,783
    Country
    Navy
    Atlanta Braves Tennessee Volunteers Tennessee Titans

    From experience.. We are in the startup stages of getting ready to actually do this. Seeing as how we already have most of the memorabilia and singles inventory, we are really only needing supplies, cases and boxes of product, display cases, racks, and the rent and etc. We are looking at 25k.

  9. #9
    BANNED



    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Posts
    349
    Country

    From experience.. We are in the startup stages of getting ready to actually do this. Seeing as how we already have most of the memorabilia and singles inventory, we are really only needing supplies, cases and boxes of product, display cases, racks, and the rent and etc. We are looking at 25k.

    Well my reason for $100K was just for one year, cases of every product, it comes out to about $60K+. $25K seems really low for start up cost.

  10. #10
    Advisor





    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Age
    34
    Posts
    6,694
    SCF Rewards
    10,783
    Country
    Navy
    Atlanta Braves Tennessee Volunteers Tennessee Titans

    You don't need the full years product at start. Only the current available product. You then use that products sales to buy future product.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
SCF Sponsors


About SCF

    Sports Card Forum provides sports and non-sports card collectors a safe place to discuss, buy, sell and trade.

    SCF maintains tools that will allow collectors to manage their collections online, information about what is happening with the hobby, as well as providing robust data to send out for Autographs through the mail.

Follow SCF on