How to open a vapeshop

Many people are interested in whether it is profitable to open a vape shop. As the statistics show, it is really profitable. From 2019 to 2021, according to Forbes, the number of outlets in Russia selling e-cigarettes and liquids for them doubled.

Despite the fact that there are people who believe that the trade in electronic cigarettes should be completely banned, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation opposes complete bans. According to his representatives, the direct consequence of such a decision will be the creation of an uncontrolled black market, and the budget will lose large sums.

But all of the above does not mean that opening a vape shop will be an easy task. A novice businessman faces many questions: where to start, where to open his point of sale, how much money does it take to open a vape shop. Therefore, a reasonable solution would be to conclude a franchise agreement.

Franchise: what is it and why is it convenient and profitable

A franchise agreement is a special type of agreement between a brand owner and an entrepreneur. Representatives of the brand provide comprehensive support to the businessman. They help him deal with legal nuances, provide information that will help him choose the best place for the store, give him access to the supplier database and negotiate reasonable prices for goods with them.

Brand representatives explain how to open their own vapeshop, and provide consulting support for a reason, not for nothing. Of course, they expect to receive income. The franchisee, that is, the one who signed the contract, pays:

• lump sum is the amount that is paid once;
• royalties are paid monthly, but usually not from the first month.

It is beneficial for the brand to provide support at a decent level. After all, then the franchisee will work with maximum efficiency, and there will be no problems with paying royalties.

For franchisees, there are also many advantages in such an agreement. He gets access to useful information that is clearly structured. If you need to clarify something, experienced consultants will quickly help him, and not just poke at the documents submitted to him, but explain all the subtleties taking into account the specific situation. Ready-made documentation and checklists will help save time and nerves.

You will not need to independently develop corporate symbols and create and promote a website - all this is provided by the brand.

Experienced specialists will help you choose the assortment correctly. As practice shows, you should not include too many premium products in the catalog. They bring a lot of profit, but they are not bought very often, so it would be more logical to focus on trading economy-class products and goods that belong to the middle price segment.

Perhaps the franchise owner will set certain working conditions. But a person who does not know exactly how to open a vape shop from scratch should agree to some restrictions in exchange for effective support.

What you need to open a vapeshop

First, it is necessary to find a franchise with which you can cooperate on favorable terms. There are many interesting offers on the Russian vaping market. We recommend it:

• carefully study the conditions offered by a particular franchise, and if something is unclear, ask clarifying questions;
• search for information about this franchise on the Internet – if little is written about the brand, it is unlikely that cooperation with it will provide a good return;
• find other franchisees, chat with them, ask questions.

You need to make a decision on concluding a contract only after you are sure that the franchise is trustworthy.

Secondly, it is necessary to determine the format of the outlet. There are certain legal restrictions in Russia, and they also need to be taken into account.

Thirdly, we need to find a suitable room. It is better if it is in the city center, but if you choose another area, it is important that the store is located next to a busy street. Parking nearby is also good.

In principle, a retail outlet can be opened not only in the city. Thanks to the Internet, modern fashion trends are quickly penetrating the villages. Therefore, there are franchises ready to help those who are interested in how to open a vape shop from scratch in the village.

The list of what a person who plans to create a vape shop needs is a business plan and initial investments. They will be needed for renting and repairing premises, purchasing commercial equipment and furniture, and purchasing goods. Also, do not forget about the salary of the staff. As a rule, two sellers are required. You will also need an accountant, but accounting can be outsourced.

S2B franchise: favorable conditions

Attractive conditions are offered by S2B (Shisha To Brother). Its franchisees receive:

• a document that explains in detail how to open a vapeshop; it consists of 412 pages;
• personal support – a personal manager is ready to answer questions 24/7;
• a configured 1C system that allows you to keep records;
• synchronization with the loyalty system;
• a well-structured website where customers can easily find the information they need;
• access to the database of suppliers who will supply goods at minimum prices.

Training is being conducted. It can be both remote and face-to-face – face-to-face classes are organized in St. Petersburg. Here, franchisees will learn everything they need to open a vapeshop, will be able to ask questions and get clear, informative answers.

You can open a vaping store in two formats - standard and mini. In any case, the royalty will be 14,500 rubles per month.

How much does it cost to open a vapeshop?

For the standard format:

• lump sum payment of 250,000 rubles;
• initial investments are 2.1-2.4 million rubles.

For the mini format:

• lump sum payment of 200,000 rubles;
• initial investments are 1.3-1.6 million rubles.

Even if things don't go well for you, S2B is ready to buy goods from unsuccessful businessmen without extra charge and equipment - its cost is calculated taking into account wear and tear. But, as practice shows, an entrepreneur who follows the brand's recommendations still comes out on top over time. The payback period for a standard format point is 9-15 months, and for a mini-format it is from 8 to 12 months.

At least 25% of S2B franchisees open a second store. This means that if you want to get vapeshop at your disposal, starting a business with S2B is a good idea. And according to the terms of the agreement, you are the legal owner of the store. At the same time, your employees will be well trained, and they will have up-to-date information about popular products at their disposal. Corporate identity will help you stand out from the competition and attract attention to your store.