Q&A for How to Open a Boutique

Not unless you have deep pockets! Patents aren't worth the paper they're written on unless you have the money to defend them. So, an average patent is going to cost you anywhere between $5,000 and $20,000, depending on how complicated it is. But if someone rips your patent off, what are you going to do? Suing can be an incredibly expensive process, and if the judge doesn't rule in your favor, you'll have to pay the other party's attorney fees.

Make sure that you're filling a niche and that you understand who you're selling to. Have you solved a problem in a unique and elegant way? What is the problem that you solved? How big of a problem is it? Who are the people affected by the problem? What makes them unique? These are all important questions to consider as you're starting out.

I think, number one: you gotta be flexible and roll with the punches! Not everything is going to work out like you plan, and there's going to be a lot of trial and error. Make sure you understand that your idea or your product might not fit with the clientele that you're going after and be ready to say, “Okay, this isn't working” but you have to try something else. Having a test fit is really important as a new business owner!

A boutique minimally requires a collection of clothes, and a fitting room. A good boutique should also have pretty hangers and decor, a tailor, and a knowledgeable attendant.

Yes you can. You just need to commercialize the room where you are setting it up and you need to do a bit of marketing.

You can do online business like open a website, start a boutique or do what is attached to your dream.

Ask your friends and family to tell their friends and family. Start a page for your boutique on Facebook, Twitter, etc. Post pictures or your new items. Update the page frequently. A sale might also help you get people in the door.

It is advisable to get some money from the bank; make sure the payments are affordable to start with. Even if you have your own savings, unexpected expenses always rise, and you don't want to fall short.

It all depends on whether you want to design the clothes yourself. Many boutiques are just a curated collection of clothes chosen with a particular demographic in mind. If you want to know more about clothing construction, draping, and stitching, a fashion design course would benefit you.

It would be a good idea to take a business class. Business Administration would be a great start.

Assuming the zoning laws in your city allow this, you will need an empty or unused area of the house with its own separate entrance. Some cities have fire codes that require two exits, so research the laws thoroughly before embarking on this venture. Be aware that you will be opening up your home to strangers.

That depends. If you have a heavy workload, then you should consider hiring somebody with fashion knowledge so they can give you advice. If you have a comfortable workload and some spare time, then you should be fine doing it on your own, which would also save you some money.

Start following fashion trends, researching more about whats in the market and what is expected in the future, what difference and new styles would you want to bring in, which material is good for what type of clothing (this can be achieved at a fashion college), and know your target market! Start networking, balance your capital. Know how much your income would be and your expenses. Once all this is achieved, use the social media platform to the fullest advertising your goods.

You can go to thrift stores and clothing shops like Goodwill and Plato's Closet. Or, if you'd like brand new clothing, stores such as H&M and Forever 21 have dupes of designer clothing at reasonable prices.

Start an online boutique. There are lots of apps like Poshmark, Mercai, and Offer Up. The boutique is free. You can also use a hosting provider if you already have capital or some investment funds to start up. Buy the domain (register the website name and keep the hosting account and renewal up to date!). GoDaddy is awesome. You just need to build the site. Use Google and YouTube. Add Paypal or online store options from the hosting provider or e-commerce to sell your items. Watch the money roll in. It takes some effort but is well worth it.

yes. Just start making making your website if you want one and looking for locations and basic stuff like that. Ask your parents for help if needed.

It depends upon the area, what type of boutique you are opening, the materials which you are going to use in your boutique like clothing, and the interior and exterior looks of the boutique.

No special licenses are required for a normal boutique unless you are into import/export. Your place should be commercially approved, that's it.

Yes, there are lots of fabric websites nowadays where you can purchase fabric or pre-made clothing.

Of course! As long as you have the means and drive to do it, then there's no reason you can't start your boutique at a young age.

Investors are usually interested in returns, so you have to make good financial projections that are realistic looking, and achievable in the time you have stated. Investors like banks will usually look at your financials first before considering the whole plan. They have to be convinced that investing in your idea will be fruitful. You just have to be knowledgeable beforehand of all your suppliers and/or your production processes in order to know that your profit forecast can be counted on, especially if you will be using markups or margins to earn your profit.

Search for comparable products and use them as a guide.

There are a number of suppliers mostly based in Asia specializing in clothing -- you can find their contact info from their sellers' accounts on ebay, Amazon and other online retail sites.

Yes, if you plan on designing your own clothes for it. You don't have to take one to run a successful boutique; a lot of others sell clothes made by other people and brands. But if you plan on making your own clothes and only selling those, or selling those and other clothes, it would help. It might also help with deciding where to place everything in your boutique, and seeing what goes along with what.

Make a business account for it on a few social media sites (such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc., and if you decide to list your products online, also Depop, eBay, Amazon, Storenvy, Etsy, etc.), and/or make your own site for it (you can use Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, etc.). Share the sites/account handles with your friends and family, similar businesses, or look around and try to find people you think might be interested. Consider paying for ads on the site(s) you made accounts on, and/or on popular social media sites. You can even make a deal with a similar business where they give you some sort of advertisement on their platform in exchange for you doing the same.

No special licenses are required for a normal boutique unless you are into import/export. Your place should be commercially approved, that's it.

Start by contacting the company whose products you want to sell. They will tell you if they sell direct to the vendor or use a distributor. You can then determine if you are able to meet the minimum inventory and order requirements, and set up an account as a vendor.