Think you’d be good at retail? Know you’ll be great at retail? Either way, a kiosk is an excellent way to get started without making a huge investment. Kiosks may be retail in miniature, but they can be very lucrative businesses — if you plan carefully and avoid making rookie mistakes. Before you decide to buy a kiosk, there are many things you’ll need to consider about your future business.

1. What’s your budget?

You’ll need money to:

• Buy a kiosk, or make lease payments
• Customize your kiosk
• Purchase inventory
• Cover ongoing operations costs

2. Do you want a permanent, year-round location?

You can choose a location in a mall, in a commercial office building, on the street, or in some other public area such as the airport. You can also buy a kiosk or food cart to use as a mobile unit or a seasonal business. Which is right for you depends on what you plan to sell, and where you’ll find the most target customers.  

Those target customers are critical to your future success. If you’re considering a mall, make sure its shopper demographics match your prospective customers. Ask if you can be located near in-line businesses that draw shoppers similar to yours.

3. Should you buy a kiosk, or should you lease or rent instead?

Many malls require you to lease your kiosk from them. If you want to start as a temporary seasonal seller, you can rent a kiosk or cart on a short-term basis. Explore the pros and cons of these options carefully before making a final decision. If you’ll be leasing, ensure you can customize your kiosk to match your business brand.

4. What size kiosk do you need?

The size and configuration will depend on your location, your products, and whether you want shoppers to walk around or into your space.

5. And what features should it have?

A well-designed kiosk will help you attract more shoppers and sell more products. It will function more smoothly for you and any employees you hire, too. Consider display and storage space, electricity, lighting, signage, etc.

6. What are the paperwork and other requirements?

The city and the location (especially if it’s a mall) will have requirements for licenses, permits, insurance, etc. If you’re selling food, you’ll need health department permits. And if your kiosk is mobile, you may need special permits or a special vehicle to haul it.  

7. What else will you be expected to do or pay for?

Malls spend money on common area maintenance, security, marketing, upgrades, and repairs. They’re big places, so these costs can be quite high. How much of the bill will your kiosk business be expected to shoulder? Beyond money issues, ask about rules governing store hours, employee parking, event participation, etc.

8. Consult a pro.

You don’t have to navigate all these considerations on your own. Enlist the help of an experienced manufacturer of custom retail fixtures and kiosks. You’ll get all the facts and advice you need to feel confident when you decide to buy a kiosk.