Thinking of starting a business? However, your head is exploding with all the costs of starting a business? Is it wrapped around all the calculations from equipment to the supply chain and then the rent and bills? You can cross a few of those worries off the list because we have a business proposal for you.

We are here to give you a solution to counter the steep costs of acquiring a place to establish a permanent retail location, a better alternative, if you will. If you haven’t guessed yet, we are talking about running a kiosk business!

A kiosk business offers you a plethora of advantages over a permanent location, namely, flexibility, shorter license agreements with lesser fees, and overall, a business setup for substantially lesser capital.

If we’ve got your attention, here is a list of dos and don’ts for you before starting your kiosk business.

Plan the business

Of course, the first stage of starting any business is coming up with a comprehensive plan for you to work with. It’s important to understand your target audience first to decide where to place your kiosk. What are you selling, and where will you find the best market for it? Will it be at a mall, on the street or at the cinema? Once you answer these questions, you’ll be able to select the ideal location to place your kiosk.

Then, there is the hassle of designing and acquiring a kiosk. A kiosk can be any structure in the middle of the crowd. For this purpose, a retail cart might be the best solution for your business. It’s portable, compact, and can be tailored to fulfill your business needs, all for lesser capital.

Open a Business Bank Account

Having a separate bank account for your business is an absolute necessity. Mixing your personal and business assets is bound to create a lot of confusion and become a huge liability in case of any lawsuit. A separate account makes monitoring the cash inflow and maintaining the accounts book easier. It also becomes easier to file your taxes separately.

Furthermore, a separate bank account means you can enjoy the perks of a business account to the fullest. You can build a credit score with your business account, have a separate business credit card, and get better financing for your business with better incentives and interest rates.

Make your business a legal entity.

Make sure that your business is registered as a legal entity. By doing so, your business will be able to enjoy legal rights, and in case of any lawsuits, you will not be personally held liable for the claimed damages. It will be charged to your business, and liabilities will go out of your business’ bank account rather than your own. Freedom from personal liability is a major advantage of having a separate bank account for your business.

Register your business for taxes

Whatever business you have, you must register it to pay your taxes. The state and the federation are entitled to some taxes. Whatever revenue you generate in your business account, you must separate it to show the money inflow and file the correct amount of taxes. A comprehensive trial will keep you out of legal trouble, and it’ll also make you eligible for benefits from the government.

Get Business Insurance

Life is very unpredictable, and that unpredictability can also trickle down to your business. Not that it happens to everyone, but any unforeseen event can lead to losses for your small startup, which is again very counter-productive for you. To avoid that, spend a little capital to insure your new business. There are many insurance packages, and General Liability insurance is the most popular one. For a small business like yours, it’s a great package, and it will cover your losses in case of any unforeseen mishaps.

Get all the necessary permits and licenses.

Like any other business, you need to cross all your ‘t’s and dot all your ‘i’s before going forward. One of the things you need to get done is obtain the necessary permits and licenses to operate your business. Different states have different license requirements, and it’s important to do your research and find out what you need. Read up on state requirements and get registered to obtain the necessary licenses.

Similarly, wherever you decide to run your kiosk business, you need to have permits from the relevant authorities to place your business. Understand which federal or state authority has the applicable jurisdiction in the area where you’ve decided to do business, know what permits are needed, and then do what’s necessary to obtain those.

Create your brand

However unique your business, you still need an advertisement for it to penetrate the market. Firstly, focus on making a catchy logo or a catchy poster for your business. It should be unique and should be able to attract the right attention. Decorate your kiosk to attract attention, one that makes people stop and stare and perhaps visit you. Don’t overdo it; customers like something colorful and creative, not a clutter of things on display. If you want them to visit again, keep it simple.

Finally, how do you market yourself to the audience that’s not there? There are online alternatives, the best one being social media. The marketing capability of social media is unmatched, and it’ll help people notice your business. Create a page for your business where you regularly put out pictures and information about your product. Engage the audience there, and you’re sure to get customers from far and wide.

Conclusion

A kiosk business is just a regular business in compact form. To get started on your kiosk business, do your due diligence and scout for places where you can start placing your kiosk for operation. Obtain all the legal paperwork and permits from the relevant authorities to legitimately place your business at the desired location. Register your business with the relevant authorities while you’re at it. Buy a ready-made retail kiosk or get it custom-made and then spend some time on your brand and the image you want to create. Use your branding design to decorate your kiosk to attract the right attention. However, don’t forget to capitalize on the power of social media to find your market. With all the initial work done, make a separate bank account to manage revenues and track cash flows easily. It’ll also make it easier for you to pay taxes for your business. With these steps ticked off, you are ready to take on the market!

Jane