Opening a Bookstore

Provisional members have access to a wealth of information, tools, and expertise. From the Book Buyer's Handbook (directory of publisher terms, specials, and co-op offers) to educational events, the bookseller-to-bookseller forums, networking opportunities, and the ABACUS financial benchmarking survey results, ABA has what you need to prepare yourself for bookstore ownership.

Provide your name, email address, mailing address, potential store location and name, if applicable, and where you are in the process (are you on the verge of opening a bookstore? Halfway there? Or just thinking about it for now?). ABA will send you a digital kit including an Opening a Bookstore checklist.

Facilitated by The Bookstore Training Group of Paz & Associates. This information-packed bookselling experience features workshops on finances, store design, inventory management, marketing, technology, and more. ABA members receive discounts for workshop tuition and guidebooks. ABA members receive a discount on tuition for the Owning a Bookstore workshop, and a discount on the Opening a Bookstore Essential Planning Guide.

Your exploration of bookselling will benefit from a good reading of the information provided by the Small Business Administration on its website. From business plans to legal concerns, this is a wonderful stop for an overview and resources.

ABA offers two e-commerce platforms for independent bookstores that are fully transactional, e-commerce enabled websites.

The Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) website has numerous articles and resources on a range of small business topics. The organization’s hundreds of nonprofit chapters help link thousands of experienced business professionals with entrepreneurs every year.