Opening Record Store


Looking for advice from my fellow audiogoners...I have the potential to move into a store front that is already being operated as a record store (lps only) and become the new shop proprieter/owner. The owner has offered me the space (rediculously cheap rent) in a good area of town. He has had his store for about 5 years now and has a steady customer base. He will be taking all of his inventory and record storage bins that were in the store.He has a web site set up already and signs out front indicating the name of the shop...I plan on rebranding the shop with name change and interior upgrades. It is not a large space maybe 800-1000 square feet. I have a rather large inventory of my own so my up front investment of vinyl would be minimal. The owner wants me to buy him out..basically give cash in return for his customer base and the potential to get my hands on pretty good collections. I am trying to come up with a fair valuation of something like this and I am looking for advice..What do you think something like this is worth? Thank you in advance.
fromunda
Warning Wil Robinson!

I did something similar years ago in the Midwest  and it didn’t end well for me.  What reason did the seller give for wanting out? Is this 800 square feet of space rent free?
Rebranding costs money. A new sign alone can cost a fortune and then there’s advertising, where the Sky’s the limit.
How much will insurance cost?
Will you need a safe?
Will you need an alarm system?
Will you need a cash register?
Will you need a computer, Printer and backup hard drive?
Do you have 80-100hours a week to put into the place?
Have you talked to an accountant? Do you have another source of income?
Will you be able to establish credit with Venders?

 I can go on.

What ever you do, all the best of luck!

JD
LOTS of good advice on here...after 40 years I could definitely help (on the phone)
get in touch... 
Check out YouTube I have seen several successful record store owners do videos on what it takes to be successful. Check out Spinmeroundstore and noble records to start.
Some really great, no nonsense advice from the posters here...I have nothing to add.
There are so many problems with this that it's hard to know where to begin.

But if he is taking everything, it sounds like he's selling you a lease, not much more.

Unless you are using the store as a front for other "business activity", or doing it as a hobby or as a way to meet chicks, lol, etc I'd fuhghedtabouwdit.