STARTUPBIZHUB

Starting Your Own Video and Game Rentals/Sales/Exchange Shop

Are you planning to take advantage of the flourishing game and video industry? You might be looking at establishing your very own video and game shop.

We'd like to help you know important facts on starting this profitable business through this short but concise guide.

Selecting Your Business Location

Where is the best location for your shop? With the proliferation of shops and online stores in big cities these days, the best place would be in rural locations. The state in which you operate your business is where you will apply for a business permit, sales tax ID, reseller license, etc. Visit your state tax department to register your business and pay related fees. Sales tax, however, doesn’t apply in some states like Delaware, Montana, Alaska and Hawaii. Make sure your suppliers are within reach to save on transportation costs.

Deciding What to Offer

Keep up with the trends to make a good catch in the market. Video games come in several platforms (Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Wii/Game Cube/DS, PlayStation 1-3/Portable, etc.). Each year, new videos, movies and game software are released. Be sure to update your inventory. For videos and games not found in your inventory, offer to swap a client's item for one of yours or be a middleman for clients who'd agree to swap. Older copies are available at dirt-cheap prices from pawnshops and discount stores. Brand new titles are priced at over $10 each. To avoid breaching copyrights, inform clients that rented items are "strictly for home-use only". You may also carry game accessories and players as another source of income. Branded accessories and players can be cheaply acquired at half their prices from liquidators. A mark-up of $10 to $20 on these items is apt. You may also offer player buyers free film rentals to gain their patronage. Discounts and freebies may also be afforded for big purchasers. Manage your inventory well. Keep track of the shelf-life of your items and the number of times they have been rented out. New copies (1-6 months old) are normally rented for a maximum of 24 hours. Older copies (6-9 months old) are rented for a maximum of three days. Copies older than 9 months are sold save for one or two copies to be rented for a maximum of five days.

Furnishing Your Shop

You’d need at least $5,000 to purchase and install a point-of-sale and accounting software, computer, printer (report and/or receipt), credit terminal, calculator, cash box, barcode scanner, desk, display racks/shelves, signage, shrink wrap, television, video/game players, DVD boxes/cases, air-conditioner, telephone/fax, lighting/fixtures, etc. If you wish to initially hold 500 titles (250 older copies, 250 brand new), you'd need around $5,000. At least $10,000 is required for start-up cost, excluding initial salaries, utilities and space rent. You could, however, remodel an extra space/room at home and convert it into a shop.
 

<< Steps to Start an Automobile Business in School
Dumpster Rental Services >>

8 Comments

  • eric said on March 23, 2010
    i want to start a Video Game Store in Santa Clara, CA, United States
  • Leon said on October 21, 2010
    Where can i get the games wholesale?
  • len jones said on February 7, 2011
    hi...same question..someone asked best place to buy games wholesale?
  • manon said on February 8, 2012
    I am about to open a convenience store and would like to offer the dvd/video games rental but really don't know where to find a supplier. Would you be able to connect me to someone that does supplies the small stores.
  • praveen said on April 11, 2012
    where can i find all the gaming stuff to set up a gaming zone in INDIA
  • Eric said on June 3, 2012
    i would like to start my own game exchange in mount pleasant texas how do i go bout doing that and how much would i need
  • armaan said on September 4, 2012
    hi. i was wondering what would be a good place to set up your own gaming rental, sale, exchange retail and other things related to it in india. i am open to any state in india as long as it has a healthy environment. and also whom i need to contact for starting it and what are the things i need to take care off.
  • Tanya Stewart said on December 31, 2013
    Hi I would like to start up my own game movie rental store , how do I go about it inverness scotland

    Comment

    (All the above fields are required.)

    Categories

    Popular Articles

    Join Our Newsletter