Do you want to start vape shop business?
Are you planning on how to open a vape shop? With each passing day, the use of vapor cigarettes has continued to increase. Nowadays, there are exclusive electronic cigarette shops that have mushroomed in cities, towns and neighborhoods. Vaping is a hot trend with statistics showing the industry is projected to grow from $8 billion in 2015 to a massive $47 billion in 2025. Researchers have pointed out electronic cigarettes could be a healthier alternative to traditional cigarette smoking. Since then, a lot of people prefer to inhale vapor from tobacco, marijuana and other substances. Vaping has become a mainstream culture with vaping stores now found in convenience stores and gas stations. It’s definitely a rewarding venture if you have a right business strategy in place.
Executive Summary
2.1 The Business
The Vape shop will be registered using the name Vapehub and will be situated in Arkansas City, Texas. The shop will be owned and managed by Stanley Johnson who is an experienced Quality Assurance Specialist.
2.2 Management Team
Stanley Johnson owner and manager of Vapehub is an expert quality assurance specialist who has worked extensively in the cigar manufacturing industry for over 25 years. During his career, Stanley worked for high profile and top cigar brands in the U.S. such as British American Tobacco and Philip Morris International. Considering his extensive industry experience, it wasn’t difficult for him to start a vape shop business.
2.3 Customer Focus
Before beginning a vapor shop, it is imperative to have an in-depth understanding of your local cigar market and statistics. Vapehub plans to set up its shop in a strategic location with plenty of foot traffic and sufficient parking space. Customers are anyone who is a vaping enthusiast or keen to quit traditional smoking.
2.4 Business Target
Vapehub intends to offer vapor cigars as well as accessories and associated products to a wide range of customers visiting the facility. Vapehub intends to find a creative marketing approach to survive competition and get good market.
Company Summary
3.1 Company Owner
Stanley Johnson is an experienced quality assurance specialist with a successful career journey in the cigar industry. Having worked for various bluechip companies across the United States, he has an intricate understanding of the procedures required for opening a vape shop.
3.2 Aim of Starting the Business
The modern society is becoming health conscious and because of this reason, the demand for healthier alternatives has gone up. The fact that vaping doesn’t involve inhaling of harmful toxins is the reason why many people are opting to use vaporizers. With the vape trend sweeping across the U.S. Stanley thought it was the right time to start a vape shop to address market needs.
3.3 How the Business will be Started
With over twenty years’ experience in the cigar industry, Stanley Johnson enjoys massive experience in the industry. For this reason, he has a keen understanding on what is required to start the business. After carefully studying local vape shop market trends, Stanley has worked closely with experts to come up with a comprehensive financial analysis.
| Start-up Expenses | |
| Legal | $3,000 |
| Consultants | $4,000 |
| Insurance | $24,000 |
| Rent | $15,000 |
| Research and Development | $10,000 |
| Expensed Equipment | $12,000 |
| Signs | $4,000 |
| TOTAL START-UP EXPENSES | $72,000 |
| Start-up Assets | |
| Cash Required | $140,000 |
| Start-up Inventory | $50,000 |
| Other Current Assets | $22,000 |
| Long-term Assets | $8,000 |
| TOTAL ASSETS | $22,000 |
| Total Requirements | $21,000 |
| START-UP FUNDING | $0 |
| START-UP FUNDING | $80,000 |
| Start-up Expenses to Fund | $30,000 |
| Start-up Assets to Fund | $20,000 |
| TOTAL FUNDING REQUIRED | $0 |
| Assets | $14,000 |
| Non-cash Assets from Start-up | $12,000 |
| Cash Requirements from Start-up | $0 |
| Additional Cash Raised | $42,000 |
| Cash Balance on Starting Date | $18,000 |
| TOTAL ASSETS | $0 |
| Liabilities and Capital | $0 |
| Liabilities | $0 |
| Current Borrowing | $0 |
| Long-term Liabilities | $0 |
| Accounts Payable (Outstanding Bills) | $0 |
| Other Current Liabilities (interest-free) | $0 |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES | $0 |
| Capital | $0 |
| Planned Investment | $0 |
| Investor 1 | $10,000 |
| Investor 2 | $150,000 |
| Other | $0 |
| Additional Investment Requirement | $0 |
| TOTAL PLANNED INVESTMENT | $110,000 |
| Loss at Start-up (Start-up Expenses) | $50,000 |
| TOTAL CAPITAL | $60,000 |
| TOTAL CAPITAL AND LIABILITIES | $30,000 |
| Total Funding | $150,000 |
Services for Customers
Vape storefronts are primarily aimed at providing offering a wide range of e-cigarette products. Unlike conventional retailers who only sell e-cig products from large big brands, vape shops focus on availing products from smaller brands and customizing them in accordance to customer preferences.
Vapehub intends to offer a wide variety of e-liquids to cater for the tastes of various types of customers. When planning how to start your own vape shop, you should survey the market and determine what customers are looking for. In this case, Vapehub intends to offer the following products at its Arkansas store:
- Offer a wide selection of e-cigarette brands which shall be offered in a wide variety of flavors such as chocolate, mint, caramel, menthol and mint among others
- Sell vaping magazines
- Offer vaping accessories such as wooden cases, clothing and bags customized for e-liquids
- Provide a social environment where vapers can sit and enjoy their favorite ecigar as they interact with other vaping enthusiasts.
How to open vape shop and make it successful depends on the creativity of diversifying consumer products.
Marketing Analysis of Vape Shop Business
The vape industry is raking in impressive numbers and for this reason, businesses venturing into the industry are witnessing fast growth and high profitability. However, when coming up with a vape shop business plan, it’s important to do your homework well. With each passing day, new brands of vapor cigarettes continue to emerge. Understanding your local market is key to give you intimate knowledge of local trends. Many vape shops are proliferating to meet the growing demand for e-cigarettes and a creative and customer oriented approach is required.
5.1 Market Segment
In order to ensure Vapehub meet’s its obligations, the vape shop will focus on selling different brands and flavors of vapor cigarettes. The aim is to introduce a wide array of flavors that are exclusively associated with Vapehub. A good vape shop business plan sample should adequately identify potential customers for the business. Vapehub will basically reach out to anyone who’s curious and interested in the emerging vaping culture, as well as smokers who wish to ditch smoking cigarettes for vaping. After extensive market research, the vape shop has identified the following customers to patronize the facility.
5.1.1 Quitters
One of the biggest markets for Vapehub is Quitters who are individuals trying to quit smoking. The concept of e-cigarettes has been embraced mainly by people who wish to stop smoking traditional cigarettes whose continuous use has been attributed to cause a myriad of health conditions. Researchers seem to agree e-cigarettes are a better alternative considering users don’t need to inhale any smoke while enjoying their favorite cigar.
Statistics indicate individuals wishing to quit smoking range between 18 years to older people who’ve been smoking for many years. The growth witnessed in the vaping industry has been attributed to an increasing number of quitters who wish to embrace a healthier smoking lifestyle. This business plan template vape shop is designed to focus on reaching out to current smokers in a bid to encourage them to embrace the use of e-cigarettes.
5.1.2 Social Vapers
This group consists of customers who’re looking for a social place to unwind and interact with other customers. This group consists of people drawn from various professional and social backgrounds such as career professionals, entrepreneurs, young adults, college students, women and parents who want their kids to quit smoking. Vapehub plans to create a conducive environment for vapers to meet, socialize and exchange ideas on different social issues. The vape shop will have a welcoming and spacious sitting interior space.
5.1.3 Vape Enthusiasts
The vaping culture has steadily gained momentum attracting people who wish to smoke e-cigarettes for fun. Today, many people consider vaping a hobby and will always make an effort to visit a vape shop where they can purchase their favorite e-cigarette flavors or brands. With the increasing interest in this hobby, there’s a great market for Vapehub to explore.
| Market Analysis | |||||||
| Potential Customers | Growth | YEAR 1 | YEAR 2 | YEAR 3 | YEAR 4 | YEAR 5 | |
| Quitters | 40% | 30,000 | 32,000 | 34,000 | 36,000 | 38,000 | |
| Social Vapers | 35% | 25,000 | 27,000 | 29,000 | 31,000 | 33,000 | |
| Vape Enthusiasts | 25% | 20,000 | 22,000 | 24,000 | 26,000 | 28,000 | |
| Total | 100% | 75,000 | 81,000 87000 | 93,000 | 99,000 | ||
5.2 Business Target
Everyone wants to become part of the vaping culture and Vapehub has an excellent opportunity to launch its services on the market. Arkansas is a large city and the vape shop intends to set up in a strategic location with high foot traffic. In order to boost revenue, the vape shop plans to offer a diversified product range of e-cigarettes and accessories for its customers. With a good strategy in place, Vapehub hopes to achieve a 15-20% increase in annual sales.
5.3 Product Pricing
When planning how to open your own vape shop, it is necessary to do a market study and compare product prices from competitors. Given the increasing number of vaping shops, Vapehub is keen to have competitive pricing in order to stay afloat and compete favorably with other industry players.
Strategy
The vaping industry is experiencing rapid growth as the vaping culture becomes more predominant. With more smokers keen on finding a healthy way to enjoy their cigar, the number of vaping shops has drastically increased and there is need for Vapehub to find the best strategy of how to open a vape shop and remain relevant in a fast growing industry.
6.1 Competitive Analysis
Vapehub plans to come up with business model that will sustain business operations and ensure customers enjoy superior quality products. There are other vape shops in the city but the business has identified strategies to help it remain ahead of competitors.
6.2 Sales Strategy
For the vape shop to attain its sales goals, the following strategies have been identified to help market the business.
- Organize a grand party for the entire neighborhood to introduce the vape shop to customers. During the event, offer customers free samples of products for them to have a feel of what e-cigarettes offer.
- Offer product and customer service training sessions to keep staff up to date about the latest vaporizer products available in the vape store. Doing this empowers staff to convince customers why they should spend their money on various e-cigarette brands
- Embrace SMS text messaging as a way to retain clients and build long-term customer relationships and loyalty
- Place signage at strategic points within the customer target areas to create awareness and market the vape shop
- Come up with loyalty plan that see loyal customers enjoy goodies from the vape shop and remain committed clients
- Advertise the vape shop on local media channels such as radio, newspapers and television
- Use social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to market the vape shop
6.3 Sales Forecast
To achieve its targets, Vapehub has formulated a sales forecast to demonstrate how the vape shop will perform when it starts operations.
| Sales Forecast | |||
| Unit Sales | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
| E-cigarette brands | 330,000 | 350,000 | 380,000 |
| Vaping magazines | 300,000 | 330,000 | 360,000 |
| Vaping accessories | 250,000 | 280,000 | 310,000 |
| Social environment | 200,000 | 230,000 | 260,000 |
| TOTAL UNIT SALES | 1,080,000 | 1,210,000 | 1,310,000 |
| Unit Prices | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
| E-cigarette brands | $300.00 | $320.00 | $340.00 |
| Vaping magazines | $250.00 | $270.00 | $290.00 |
| Vaping accessories | $200.00 | $220.00 | $240.00 |
| Social environment | $150.00 | $170.00 | $190.00 |
| Sales | |||
| E-cigarette brands | $250,000 | $270,000 | $290,000 |
| Vaping magazines | $220,000 | $240,000 | $260,000 |
| Vaping accessories | $200,000 | $220,000 | $240,000 |
| Social environment | $190,000 | $210,000 | $220,000 |
| TOTAL SALES | |||
| Direct Unit Costs | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
| E-cigarette brands | $2.50 | $3.00 | $3.50 |
| Vaping magazines | $2.00 | $2.50 | $3.00 |
| Vaping accessories | $1.50 | $2.00 | $2.50 |
| Social environment | $1.00 | $1.50 | $2.00 |
| Direct Cost of Sales | |||
| E-cigarette brands | $150,000 | $170,000 | $190,000 |
| Vaping magazines | $120,000 | $140,000 | $160,000 |
| Vaping accessories | $100,000 | $120,000 | $140,000 |
| Social environment | $80,000 | $100,000 | $120,000 |
| Subtotal Direct Cost of Sales | $315,000 | $345,000 | $390,000 |
Personnel Plan
Vapehub hopes to employ well trained and experienced personnel to run the operations of the vape shop on a daily basis. How much does it cost to start a vape shop should include a personnel budget to enable the business have an idea how much it will spend on salaries.
7.1 Personnel Plan
Vapehub is owned by Stanely Johnson who will also be the manager of the vape shop. As preparations are put in place for the business to open doors to the public, the following staff will be employed in the vape shop.
Owner/Manager
2 Marketing Executives
1 Cashier
2 Floor staff
1 Security guard
Successful applicants will be undergo training to familiarize themselves with vape shop operations to boost productivity and performance.
7.2 Average Salaries
Vapehub plans to compensate its members of staff the following salaries within the first three years of operation.
| Personnel Plan | |||
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |
| Owner/Manager | $50,000 | $55,000 | $60,000 |
| 2 Sales and Marketing Executive | $60,000 | $65,000 | $70,000 |
| Floor Assistant | $25,000 | $30,000 | $35,000 |
| Floor Assistant | $25,000 | $30,000 | $35,000 |
| 1 Cashier | $20,000 | $25,000 | $30,000 |
| 1 Security guard | $18,000 | $20,000 | $22,000 |
| Total Salaries | $198,000 | $225,000 | $252,000 |
Financial Plan
Vapehub has come up with a detailed financial plan that will guide the operations of the vape shop. Initial capital and business expenses need to be well-defined when starting a vape shop. In this business plan, Stanley Johnson will finance the vape shop business assisted by two investors. A bank loan for business plan will be secured to help finance budget deficiencies.
8.1 Important Assumptions
Financial forecast for Vapehub shall be based on the assumptions below.
| General Assumptions | |||
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |
| Plan Month | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Current Interest Rate | 15.00% | 17.00% | 19.00% |
| Long-term Interest Rate | 5.00% | 5.00% | 5.00% |
| Tax Rate | 12.00% | 14.00% | 16.00% |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 |
8.2 Brake-even Analysis
The Brake-even Analysis for Vapehub is shown in the graph below.
| Brake-Even Analysis | |
| Monthly Units Break-even | 8000 |
| Monthly Revenue Break-even | $200,000 |
| Assumptions: | |
| Average Per-Unit Revenue | $250.00 |
| Average Per-Unit Variable Cost | $2.00 |
| Estimated Monthly Fixed Cost | $400,000 |
8.3 Projected Profit and Loss
Profit and Loss information for the vape shop calculated on a monthly and annual basis is shown below.
Below is important financial data for Vapehub.
| Pro Forma Profit And Loss | |||
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |
| Sales | $450,000 | $500,000 | $550,000 |
| Direct Cost of Sales | $100,000 | $120,000 | $140,000 |
| Other | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| TOTAL COST OF SALES | $100,000 | $120,000 | $140,000 |
| Gross Margin | $400,000 | $450,000 | $500,000 |
| Gross Margin % | 50.00% | 60.00% | 70.00% |
| Expenses | |||
| Payroll | $300,000 | $330,000 | $360,000 |
| Sales and Marketing and Other Expenses | $6,000 | $8,000 | $10,000 |
| Depreciation | $5,000 | $6,000 | $7,000 |
| Leased Equipment | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Utilities | $6,000 | $7,000 | $8,000 |
| Insurance | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,000 |
| Rent | $15,000 | $18,000 | $21,000 |
| Payroll Taxes | $25,000 | $30,000 | $35,000 |
| Other | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total Operating Expenses | $250,000 | $300,000 | $350,000 |
| Profit Before Interest and Taxes | $35,000 | $40,000 | $45,000 |
| EBITDA | $25,000 | $30,000 | $35,000 |
| Interest Expense | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Taxes Incurred | $15,000 | $18,000 | $21,000 |
| Net Profit | $140,000 | $170,000 | $200,000 |
| Net Profit/Sales | 25.00% | 30.00% | 35.00% |
8.3.1 Monthly Profit
8.3.2 Yearly Profit
8.3.3 Monthly Gross Margin
8.3.4 Yearly Gross Margin
Profit and Loss Analysis for Vapehub is shown below.
8.4 Projected Cash Flow
Below is a summary of pro forma cash flow, subtotal cash received, subtotal cash spent on operations, subtotal cash spent and subtotal cash from operations.
| Pro Forma Cash Flow | |||
| Cash Received | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
| Cash from Operations | |||
| Cash Sales | $50,000 | $60,000 | $70,000 |
| Cash from Receivables | $12,000 | $14,000 | $16,000 |
| SUBTOTAL CASH FROM OPERATIONS | $62,000 | $74,000 | $86,000 |
| Additional Cash Received | |||
| Sales Tax, VAT, HST/GST Received | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| New Current Borrowing | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| New Other Liabilities (interest-free) | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| New Long-term Liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Sales of Other Current Assets | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Sales of Long-term Assets | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| New Investment Received | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| SUBTOTAL CASH RECEIVED | $62,000 | $74,000 | $86,000 |
| Expenditures | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
| Expenditures from Operations | |||
| Cash Spending | $35,000 | $40,000 | $45,000 |
| Bill Payments | $25,000 | $30,000 | $35,000 |
| SUBTOTAL SPENT ON OPERATIONS | $55,000 | $70,000 | $80,000 |
| Additional Cash Spent | |||
| Sales Tax, VAT, HST/GST Paid Out | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Principal Repayment of Current Borrowing | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other Liabilities Principal Repayment | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Long-term Liabilities Principal Repayment | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Purchase Other Current Assets | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Purchase Long-term Assets | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Dividends | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| SUBTOTAL CASH SPENT | $55,000 | $70,000 | $80,000 |
| Net Cash Flow | $25,000 | $30,000 | $35,000 |
| Cash Balance | $30,000 | $35,000 | $40,000 |
8.5 Projected Balance Sheet
Below is a Projected Balance Sheet for Vapehub that shows assets, capital, liabilities, long term assets and current liabilities.
| Pro Forma Balance Sheet | |||
| Assets | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
| Current Assets | |||
| Cash | $220,000 | $240,000 | $280,000 |
| Accounts Receivable | $13,000 | $15,000 | $17,000 |
| Inventory | $5,000 | $7,000 | $9,000 |
| Other Current Assets | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS | $243,000 | $267,000 | $311,000 |
| Long-term Assets | |||
| Long-term Assets | $12,000 | $14,000 | $16,000 |
| Accumulated Depreciation | $14,000 | $16,000 | $18,000 |
| TOTAL LONG-TERM ASSETS | $3,000 | $4,000 | $5,000 |
| TOTAL ASSETS | $240,000 | $260,000 | $280,000 |
| Liabilities and Capital | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
| Current Liabilities | |||
| Accounts Payable | $17,000 | $19,000 | $21,000 |
| Current Borrowing | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other Current Liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| SUBTOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES | $17,000 | $19,000 | $21,000 |
| Long-term Liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES | $17,000 | $19,000 | $21,000 |
| Paid-in Capital | $30,000 | $30,000 | $30,000 |
| Retained Earnings | $35,000 | $40,000 | $45,000 |
| Earnings | $120,000 | $140,000 | $160,000 |
| TOTAL CAPITAL | $240,000 | $270,000 | $300,000 |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL | $200,000 | $230,000 | $260,000 |
| Net Worth | $300,000 | $350,000 | $400,000 |
8.6 Business Rations
The following is the Ratio Analysis, Business Ratios and Business Net Worth for the vape shop.
| Ratio Analysis | ||||
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | INDUSTRY PROFILE | |
| Sales Growth | 10.00% | 25.00% | 40.00% | 6.00% |
| Percent of Total Assets | ||||
| Accounts Receivable | 8.00% | 6.00% | 5.00% | 12.00% |
| Inventory | 4.00% | 3.00% | 2.00% | 10.00% |
| Other Current Assets | 3.00% | 2.50% | 2.00% | 25.00% |
| Total Current Assets | 120.00% | 125.00% | 130.00% | 50.00% |
| Long-term Assets | -6.00% | -12.00% | -20.00% | 50.50% |
| TOTAL ASSETS | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
| Current Liabilities | 6.00% | 5.00% | 4.00% | 25.00% |
| Long-term Liabilities | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 24.00% |
| Total Liabilities | 5.00% | 2.00% | 1.00% | 45.00% |
| NET WORTH | 85.00% | 70.00% | 90.00% | 30.00% |
| Percent of Sales | ||||
| Sales | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
| Gross Margin | 72.00% | 75.00% | 78.00% | 0.00% |
| Selling, General & Administrative Expenses | 65.00% | 70.00% | 55.00% | 70.00% |
| Advertising Expenses | 4.00% | 3.00% | 2.00% | 3.50% |
| Profit Before Interest and Taxes | 25.00% | 28.00% | 31.00% | 2.50% |
| Main Ratios | ||||
| Current | 12 | 16 | 20 | 1.4 |
| Quick | 28 | 32 | 36 | 1.5 |
| Total Debt to Total Assets | 4.00% | 2.50% | 2.00% | 60.00% |
| Pre-tax Return on Net Worth | 70.00% | 85.00% | 90.00% | 3.3.0% |
| Pre-tax Return on Assets | 65.00% | 70.00% | 72.00% | 9.00% |
| Additional Ratios | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |
| Net Profit Margin | 15.00% | 20.00% | 23.00% | N.A. |
| Return on Equity | 54.00% | 58.00% | 62.00% | N.A. |
| Activity Ratios | ||||
| Accounts Receivable Turnover | 6 | 8 | 10 | N.A. |
| Collection Days | 95 | 100 | 105 | N.A. |
| Inventory Turnover | 16 | 19 | 22 | N.A. |
| Accounts Payable Turnover | 13 | 16 | 19 | N.A. |
| Payment Days | 24 | 24 | 24 | N.A. |
| Total Asset Turnover | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.9 | N.A. |
| Debt Ratios | ||||
| Debt to Net Worth | 0 | -0.08 | -0.04 | N.A. |
| Current Liab. to Liab. | 0 | 0 | 0 | N.A. |
| Liquidity Ratios | ||||
| Net Working Capital | $230,000 | $260,000 | $290,000 | N.A. |
| Interest Coverage | 0 | 0 | 0 | N.A. |
| Additional Ratios | ||||
| Assets to Sales | 1.2 | 3.2 | 4.2 | N.A. |
| Current Debt/Total Assets | 8% | 5% | 3% | N.A. |
| Acid Test | 28 | 32 | 36 | N.A. |
| Sales/Net Worth | 3.5 | 3 | 1.5 | N.A. |
| Dividend Payout | 0 | 0 | 0 | N.A. |
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