[Yonnie1218]

I am trying to get a grant to start a thrift store. Does anyone know how to make a business plan and a proposal for one?

[Clough]

Hi, Yonnie1218!

Concerning a business plan, I did find something on the following site that I thought might be helpful to you. How to Open a Thrift Store | eHow.com What is below, is a quote from that site.

How to Open a Thrift Store
By eHow Business Editor

You've researched the market and you're seriously considering opening a thrift store. After tossing the idea around for awhile, you realize this is just the venture you've been looking for. You're ready to take the first steps towards realizing your dream.

Step 1 Find the optimal location. Running a retail business demands putting your store where you get the most traffic. Higher traffic areas cost more money, however. Consult a commercial real estate broker to see what is available in your price range.

Step 2 Decide on your inventory. A thrift store can diversify and carry a general line of merchandise, from clothing to kitchen items or it can specialize in one area; used books, furniture, clothing or any other recycled merchandise.

Step 3 Determine your merchandise sources. Your store can issue tax-deductible receipts for donations if you qualify as a 501 c(3), non-profit organization. Otherwise, you can still accept donated materials, but you won't be able to offer the benefactor a receipt they can use for a charitable deduction.

Step 4 Consider selling merchandise on consignment. Allowing others to put their items in your store and paying them a percentage of the selling amount can increase your inventory without any investment from you. Before you open your doors make sure your shelves are full of the items your customers will want.

Step 5 Get all the appropriate licenses. Different communities are very different in their requirements for opening a business. You will need a state license, along with an Employer Identification Number and a sales tax number. There may be other local requirements.

Step 6 Take a business class if you aren't familiar with the basics. You will need to know how to track your profits, what accounting system to use, how to devise a business plan and how to figure taxes and payroll. Nothing substitutes for being proficient in this area if you want your business to get off to a flying start.

As far as getting a grant, where your store is located and who your targeted, potential customers are might make a difference. For instance, the likelihood of getting a grant if your store is located in a more upscale part of town might not be as likely than if it's located in a part of the town where there really is a need for such a store and having such a store there would truly be a benefit to the surrounding neighborhoods. Also, if you state in a grant proposal that you'd like to be especially visible to and a benefit to the impoverished, unemployed, victims of some kind of disaster and/or domestic problems, those things can also make a difference in obtaining grant money.

To my knowledge, to become a non-profit, you'll need to have a board of directors, develop articles of incorporation be approved for non-profit status and get an tax ID number. Having such a number would allow you to give tax receipts and apply for grants. You also might want to align your store with an already existing non-profit store or organization.

As far as writing a grant proposal, I would suggest taking a class in how to do that and/or asking others who have non-profits as to how they wrote their proposals. Someone local to you would probably be more able to know the ins and outs concerning the area where you will be located.

I wish you all the best in starting your store!

Thanks!

[Yonnie1218]

Thanks that helped a lot.

[Clough]

I'm glad that it was helpful!

If you would like to know how to get your store the most exposure when people are looking on the Internet for what you do, where you are located, please let me know.

Thanks!

[Yonnie1218]

I am in Charlotte, NC.

[Clough]

Thanks!

Around where I live, there are some websites that are specific to this area where I live and I can advertise for free the services that I can provide for people. The websites are actually located in this area. Around where you're located, there also might be those kind of sites. An initial search for them around where you're located is below. Some of the sites that you see are the same ones that I will list in another post to you. But, they aren't necessarily located around where I live, but do get excellent exposure when people do searches on the Internet.

Charlotte, North Carolina Free Classifieds - Google Search

Changing the wording of the search will make a difference. There could be a local newspaper or other entity right around where you live where you could advertise for free.

[Clough]

What I'm posting here now is for the benefit of your advertising purposes, once you've got your business up and running and perhaps to even look for help to get it started. It's from a number of threads where I've posted about advertising. I hope that it's helpful to you!

It's easy to advertise for free on the Internet and to promote your website! You just need to know the keywords to use as well as the Internet sites where you can advertise for free that get the best results when people do searches for things on the Internet. It takes time to set up the ads and/or the websites initially, but you will get results if you use the right words.

One thing that is important is to remember is that people aren't going to be looking for you by your name or even the name of your business, but will be looking for the service or products that you will be providing in the location where it is most easy for them to procure them.

I have a number of small businesses that I run. Most of the business that I get is from the free ads that I have placed on the Internet as well as words that I have placed in my websites.

Some of the best places to advertise for free for your website or business are listed on the following links.

craigslist: san francisco bay area classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events

(To use Craigslist, you just find and post on the one that is near you.)

USA - cliQs.com

Everything from Everywhere

DomesticSale - The Effective Free Classifieds

Free Classifieds Ads - Internet Advertising to Sell Online

Vast.com - Search All The Classifieds On The Web

PennySaverUSA Classifieds Online: Local ads in California

Free Classifieds - FinditClassifieds.com

Oodle.com Classifieds - Search local online classifieds

BuySellCommunity Classifieds - Buy & Sell Locally : Free Online Classifieds

Free Classifieds @ Adpost.com

Free Classifieds, Free Ads, Free advertisement, Business Opportunity

Free Classifieds - FinditClassifieds.com

Free Advertising, Free Classifieds, Free Classified Ads, Free Ads, Classified Ads, Free Classified, Bulk Email Advertising, Opt In Email Marketing Services, Email Lists, Classified, Free Ad, Advertising Free, Classifieds, Classified Ad, Free Classifi

http://quadcities.kijiji.com/ You can change the country and city when you list there.

http://www.evelez.net/ Although it might appear to be connected with the one above, it is different. You can also change country and city.

http://www.livetray.com/

http://www.vvnvv.com/index.asp

http://www.alibaba.com/

http://www.alibaba.com/

http://www.hotfrog.com.au/

http://www.kellysearch.com/

http://www.kbclassifieds.com/

http://www.oodle.com/

http://www.olx.com/

http://www.topix.com/

http://www.isell.com/

http://www.kutvclassifieds.com/Main.do

http://www.gumtree.com/

http://www.flugpo.com/

There are also many places where you can have a free website or blog where you could advertise your business, website or anything else for that matter. Some of them can be found by clicking on the following searches.

Free Website - Google Search

Free Blog - Google Search

You can also look into joining something like Google AdSense if you would like to make some additional revenue.

AdsenseGuide - Join Google Adsense

[Clough]

Thread is now old and original poster has not returned to respond to any of the posts. Answers would seem to be sufficient at this point, especially due to original poster not returning.

Thread has been attracting others who would like to self-promote and advertise.

Thread is now CLOSED.