Grocery stores are the type of business that will be in demand always and everywhere. Today, this niche in Russia has been fully developed and opening this kind of enterprise may not be profitable due to strong competition.

But if you want to start a business in this particular industry, then there is a good way to beat your competitors and build a business in a completely new direction. We are talking about opening your own online grocery store.

In this article we will look at how to implement such a business idea, and what amount of start-up capital will be needed.

Trends in the development of online grocery stores: advantages and disadvantages

Such a new business area as online grocery stores has appeared on the Russian market quite recently. Currently this industry is business sphere is practically empty, so if you decide to open a business in this direction, you will hardly encounter any competitors.

Despite the fact that this type of business is developing at a very slow pace, experts in this field are convinced that online grocery stores are the future of global and domestic business.

So far, the majority of all such enterprises decide to open on the basis of already existing large retail chains, since this allows them to stand out among other supermarkets and does not require large investments for organizing a business direction.

But, despite such trends, many entrepreneurs starting from scratch consider this option of organization own business very promising and profitable. And this is not without reason.

Such rosy forecasts for grocery products are supported by many advantages that are very important for modern consumers. What is positive about organizing online food sales?

First, let's highlight the advantages for buyers:

Saving time and money.

We all know how much time it takes to go to the supermarket on Friday evenings or on the eve of the holidays. An online grocery store instantly solves this problem, since you no longer have to stand in line.

In addition, prices on such resources are often lower than in standard stores.

The opportunity to buy everything in one place without leaving home.


As a rule, the assortment of an online food store is in no way inferior to a regular grocery store.

You no longer have to spend hours walking around the hypermarket looking for the right product; now you will be able to find the desired tab on the website, view it and select the product. This is especially pleasing when the weather outside is rainy and cold.

No need to carry heavy bags.

We all love winter holidays and delicious dishes, but the need to lug heavy bags when it’s slippery and cold outside will not please many people. Now you can forget about it.

The advantages listed above are the main ones. In fact, there are many more of them. Online grocery stores are very convenient, especially for those who do not have a car or have small children who are often sick.

In a word, there really are a lot of positive things, which automatically means that the idea is very promising. But what about the downsides? Alas, they also exist, but for the buyer, in fact, there is only one significant one - the product cannot be touched, held in hands and assessed its quality. Entrepreneurs take this fact into account and try for the benefit of the buyer, carefully monitoring the quality of products and providing the most detailed information on them.

If you are planning to develop in this area, then take note of this.

As for the businessmen themselves, the idea of ​​opening a grocery store on the Internet now will be very successful for them, since the niche in the market is still completely empty. This is an obvious plus.

But there is an equally significant disadvantage - organizing an online grocery store is not easy, and besides, you need an impressive start-up capital: to purchase equipment and goods, create a website, rent premises and organize delivery.

In view of this, such a business idea as opening an online grocery store today has a greater chance of developing in a large metropolis than in small towns.

Be that as it may, this direction is gradually gaining momentum. So, it’s time for you to think about it. Now let’s take a closer look at how preparations for launching a business take place and what you will have to face if you want to open an outlet.

Step-by-step guide on how to open an online grocery store: 7 main steps

As already mentioned, online grocery stores are a specific niche that is very different from other types of online stores. At regular venues online sales Most of the goods sold do not require special conditions for storage and have an almost unlimited shelf life.

As for grocery stores, such enterprises must carefully monitor the storage conditions of products and the timing of their sale, otherwise the business may suffer serious losses.

To prevent this from happening, you must analyze each step in advance. This will help you understand what difficulties may arise in the process of creating a food business on the Internet. Next, we will consider each stage in detail.

Stage 1. Drawing up a business plan.

To open any type of business, you need to be competent. Its presence is especially important when we talk about the desire to open an online grocery store.

A plan, first of all, is needed to give a clear answer to questions about organizing and promoting a business. Those. the entrepreneur will be able to use it as a kind of instruction. This document will also be useful if you need to find an investor.

Exactly what questions the business plan answers are shown in the diagram below:

If we talk specifically about the field of grocery online trading, then a business plan at the very early stages will allow you to determine:

• What exactly will be the concept of your online grocery store?
• What products will be sold?
• What will the website look like, which is also the main online sales tool?
• What equipment will need to be purchased?
• How will the workspace be organized?
• How will the goods be delivered?
• How much money will you need to start a business and how soon will it pay off?
• How will advertising and attracting visitors to the store be carried out?

Once you have decided on all of the above points, you can proceed to the second stage.

Do not forget that a business plan for such an enterprise must be drawn up as competently as possible, so involve economists in its formation.

Stage 2. Registration of business activities.

In order to continue the process of creating your own business, you must definitely register with the Federal Tax Service as an entrepreneur.

Depending on the scale of your online grocery store, you can (IP) or legal entity(OOO).

Since a grocery business on the Internet requires a lot of investment, most novice entrepreneurs will most likely give preference to registering as an individual entrepreneur. Firstly, this procedure is simpler compared to LLC, and secondly, if you start with small turns, then individual entrepreneurship- the most optimal solution.

To register an individual entrepreneur, you need to submit the following documents to the tax office at the place of registration:

• Photocopy of passport.
• Statement.
• TIN code.
• Receipt for payment of state duty.

If you nevertheless decide to register as an LLC, then you will also need the charter and minutes of the meeting of founders (if there is only one founder, then the decision of the sole founder). You also submit these documents to the Federal Tax Service at your place of registration, the address of which can be found on the official website https://service.nalog.ru/addrno.do

When you register yourself as an entrepreneur, you will certainly have to choose the tax system that is most suitable for your chosen type of activity. In such situations, lawyers advise choosing a simplified system (STS) or a single tax on imputed income.

To learn more about each tax system, please refer to Tax Code RF (part 2 https://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_28165)

In addition to registration, you also undertake to obtain permits from the sanitary and epidemiological station and the fire department. If your online store sells alcoholic beverages, that is, excisable goods, you will also need to obtain a license to sell such goods. To do this, go here: https://www.fsrar.ru

Stage 3. Search for suitable premises, equipment, transport.

When you legally become a businessman, you can specifically start organizing the online grocery store itself. To do this, you first need to find a room.

It's great if you have it. If it is not there, then you have two options: purchase it, which is usually not affordable for all beginning entrepreneurs, or rent it.

Ideally, you need to rent two premises at once:

• The first is stock on which your food will be stored. It should be large enough so that all the goods can be placed there without any problems and it should be easy to assemble.

The most important thing is that it must be suitable for such purposes, that is, comply with sanitary and epidemiological standards. If this does not happen, then in the future you will face major troubles with the sanitary and epidemiological station.

• The second is office, where operators will receive and process orders, transferring them to loaders at the warehouse.

As for equipment, you will need much less of it than when organizing a regular grocery store.

You must stock your warehouse with the following items:

Equipment		Purpose
Shelving		For storing groceries, water, drinks, and related products.
Refrigerators		For storing dairy products, sausages, cheeses and fish.
Freezers		For preserving semi-finished products, frozen fruits and vegetables, ice cream.
Tables and scales		For packaging and weighing bulk products.
Trolleys		For loading, unloading and assembling goods

In addition, do not forget about zoning - this will help you ensure convenient work in the warehouse.

Here approximate sample organization of such a warehouse:

As for office equipment, everything is much simpler here and there are no prerequisites for its organization.

The most basic thing you will need for it:

• Office tables and chairs.
• Personal computers.
• Shelves for documents.

Now about one of the most difficult issues - organizing a delivery service. When to open regular internet store, creating your own courier service will not be difficult, but with grocery stores things are different.

Vehicles designed to transport orders must be spacious and suitable for such work. In other words, they must be equipped with refrigeration equipment in order to be able to deliver the products fresh.

And there are two approaches to solving this problem:

Expensive option.	Less expensive option.
Purchasing the necessary cars and organizing your own fleet.	Hiring people who have experience working in this area with their own car.
Advantages and disadvantages
Buying cars and hiring couriers is the best way to organize logistics. But you will need not just one car, but at least 5-10 cars, which will be very expensive. This option is suitable only for businessmen with substantial start-up capital.	This is a great option for budding entrepreneurs on a budget. But remember that you, as a responsible businessman, must make sure that the car is in good condition and that the courier knows how to work with clients.

Which option should I choose? The main thing is that your system works smoothly and that your customers are happy with the delivery of your products, so stick with the one you can afford.

Stage 4. Organizing the site.

A website, or rather your virtual grocery store, is the basis for this type of activity, so its creation must be approached with particular responsibility.

Although the section is headed “Stage 4,” it cannot be said that you should start developing a site only after completing the previous steps. Creating a site for an online store is a painstaking task, so you can start there.

It’s worth noting right away that you won’t be able to create your own website yourself without the necessary skills or using free website builders. Firstly, template design will have a bad effect on your reputation. Secondly, an online shop must be very functional, so it is better that it is run by professionals in their field.

So, what should your virtual grocery store be like:

1. The website on which the store is created must simultaneously serve as a trading platform, an online warehouse and a procurement processing system.
2. The platform should be easy to use, without unnecessary pictures and with a clear distribution of product groups.
3. You need to take and post high-quality photographs of products with their detailed descriptions.
4. Set aside space for visitors to leave reviews and comments, and provide opportunities for feedback.
5. The site should allow consumers to use any payment system convenient for them: Yandex.Money, Webmoney, Qiwi, cash.

Remember that sites that are too bright and filled with information are very difficult to perceive. The resource must be accessible to people of all ages and contain up-to-date information.

In the case of organizing a grocery store, or any online shop in principle, the website is the main tool for sales and success, so think through every detail.

As an example, let’s present you with a sample of a successful interface:

Stage 5. Hiring employees.

When the basic operational issues have been sorted out, it’s time to think about what kind of specialists you will need to launch a grocery store.

If you plan to start with small volumes, then hire 4-7 people to start with, and then you can increase the number of employees as needed.

What employees will you need at the stage of launching a grocery online store:

• Operators for processing online orders – 1-2 people.
• Loader for receiving and shipping goods.
• Storekeepers for distribution of product range and processing of applications - 1-2 people.
• Couriers for delivering orders – 1-2 people.

In addition to employees who deal directly with goods and consumer orders, your business will need an accountant to maintain financial and tax records, especially if you choose to open an LLC. For individual entrepreneurs, paperwork can be outsourced.

But a programmer who will monitor the operation of the site needs to be hired on a permanent basis. A technical problem that is not resolved within at least an hour or two can already lead to large losses, or more precisely, loss of profit. Therefore, the serviceability and proper operation of the site must be constantly monitored.

In the future, when your store begins to generate more profit, you can further expand your staff by hiring an advertising specialist.

Stage 6. Purchase of goods and launch of a grocery store.

When you have finally legalized your entrepreneurial activity and are prepared to officially open a store, it’s time to fill your warehouse with goods and launch your grocery business.

Products that can last longer (for example, drinks and groceries) can be purchased while organizational issues are being resolved. As for perishable products, it is better to purchase them in the last days.

Which product, or rather which product groups will be presented in your online store, depends only on your desire.

But no matter what you sell, remember that:

• It is necessary to carefully select suppliers of goods, preferably already known in the market and whose product quality there will be no problems.
• It is better if you work directly with product manufacturers, rather than with companies that are intermediaries. Firstly, this way you can purchase the product cheaper, and secondly, you can exchange it if you are not satisfied with it.
• Many manufacturers offer a discount to their regular customers as a percentage of the total amount of previous orders. Take this fact into account when selecting suppliers.

Now that you have the goods in stock, you can safely get started by launching a virtual grocery store. But finally, let's talk about one more stage that you should pay attention to when your business has already started operating.

Stage 7. Promoting an online grocery store and attracting customers.

But here everything is much more serious. The fact is that, having opened an online store selling products, you cannot sit and wait for the first buyer to appear. Most of your goods are perishable, which means you must notify consumers that you plan to open a store before it happens.

This can be done in different ways:

• Place advertisements on several large billboards in the city.
• Distribute flyers informing you that online shopping at your store will soon be available.
• Give out coupons for a discount on your first order in the store.
• Submit an ad in your local newspaper.
• Order advertising on the Internet.

In short, at the initial stage you must do everything that will attract the attention of potential consumers. Once your store is launched, you must continue your advertising campaign to further increase sales.

In addition to standard advertising, you can attract customers on the Internet with your good reputation - and this is something that money cannot buy. If your store works properly and orders are delivered on time and efficiently, then soon people will start talking about you. This will attract even more consumers and profits. Therefore, pay attention to working with negativity and constantly monitor the quality of service.

At this point, we can assume that we have figured out the step-by-step implementation of an online grocery store and it’s time to discuss the most important aspect – the material one.

Internet sales.

How to open a grocery online store?
Advantages and disadvantages.

How much does it cost to open an online grocery store and how much will it bring?

To name real figure starting capital to open a grocery store, let's break down the costs:

Expense item	Required amount
Total:	from 630,000 rub.
Registration of business and obtaining permits	Up to 10,000 (when applying for a liquor license, add another 800,000)
Development of a platform for an online storeDevelopment of a platform for an online store	From 40 000
Salary (based on 7 employees)	from 200,000
Advertising campaign at the start	15 000
Rental of premises	up to 50,000
Purchase of equipment	from 100,000
Purchase of goods	from 200,000
Unexpected expenses	15 000

Total, the amount of starting capital at the beginning entrepreneurial activity in this area will be at least 600 thousand rubles. Please note that the amount may fluctuate depending on the scale of your online store and in which region of Russia you plan to launch it.

The expected income in the first months will be from 50 thousand rubles, and within six months it will grow to 300-400 thousand rubles. But such indicators can only be achieved with the help of a constant advertising campaign.

Thus, if business shows positive dynamics and high demand, your grocery store will pay for itself within six months. If more funds were invested or at first the demand is not so great, then the payback for the grocery store will be from 1 to 2 years.

Let's sum it up...

We analyzed that an online grocery store is still a new and not fully explored direction in the business market of the Russian Federation. To become an entrepreneur in this area, you will need quite large investments, which, if proper management businesses can pay for themselves in six months to a year.

If we consider the scheme for implementing this business project in stages, you will see that this type of entrepreneurial activity is not easy to organize, but very competitive. Therefore, stock up on information and successfully conquer new heights of business.

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Approved

Government Decree

Russian Federation

RULES

SALES OF GOODS REMOTELY

1. These Rules, which establish the procedure for the sale of goods remotely, regulate the relationship between the buyer and the seller when selling goods remotely and the provision of services in connection with such sale.

2. The basic concepts used in these Rules mean the following:

“buyer” - a citizen who intends to order or purchase, or who orders, purchases or uses goods exclusively for personal, family, household and other needs not related to business activities;

“seller” is an organization, regardless of its legal form, as well as an individual entrepreneur who sells goods remotely;

“remote sale of goods” - the sale of goods under a retail purchase and sale agreement concluded on the basis of the buyer’s familiarization with the description of the goods proposed by the seller contained in catalogues, prospectuses, booklets or presented in photographs or using postal networks, telecommunication networks, including including the information and telecommunications network "Internet", as well as communication networks for broadcasting television channels and (or) radio channels, or in other ways that exclude the possibility of the buyer directly familiarizing himself with the product or a sample of the product when concluding such an agreement.

3. When selling goods remotely, the seller is obliged to offer the buyer services for the delivery of goods by sending them by post or transportation, indicating the delivery method and type of transport used.

The seller must inform the buyer about the need to use qualified specialists for connecting, setting up and commissioning technically complex products that, according to technical requirements, cannot be put into operation without the participation of appropriate specialists.

4. The list of goods sold remotely and services provided in connection with such sale is determined by the seller.

5. Remote sales of alcoholic beverages, as well as goods the free sale of which is prohibited or limited by the legislation of the Russian Federation, are not permitted.

6. These Rules do not apply to:

a) work (services), with the exception of work (services) performed (provided) by the seller in connection with the sale of goods remotely;

b) sales of goods using machines;

c) sales and purchase agreements concluded at auctions.

7. The seller has no right to perform additional work (provide services) for a fee without the buyer’s consent. The buyer has the right to refuse to pay for such work (services), and if they are paid, the buyer has the right to demand that the seller return the amount paid.

8. The seller must, before concluding a retail purchase and sale agreement (hereinafter referred to as the agreement), provide the buyer with information about the main consumer properties of the goods and the address (location) of the seller, the place of manufacture of the goods, the full brand name (name) of the seller, the price and conditions the purchase of goods, their delivery, service life, shelf life and warranty period, the procedure for paying for the goods, as well as the period during which the offer to conclude a contract is valid.

9. At the time of delivery of the goods, the seller is obliged to inform the buyer in writing the following information (for imported goods - in Russian):

a) name technical regulations or other designation established by the legislation of the Russian Federation on technical regulation and indicating mandatory confirmation of the conformity of the product;

b) information about the basic consumer properties of goods (works, services), and in relation to food products - information about the composition (including the name of food additives and biologically active additives used in the production of food products, information about the presence of components obtained in food products using genetically engineered modified organisms), nutritional value, purpose, conditions of use and storage of food products, methods of preparing ready meals, weight (volume), date and place of production and packaging (packing) of food products, as well as information about contraindications for their use in certain diseases;

c) price in rubles and terms of purchase of goods (performance of work, provision of services);

d) information about the warranty period, if established;

e) rules and conditions for the effective and safe use of goods;

f) information about the service life or shelf life of the goods, as well as information about the necessary actions of the consumer after the expiration of the specified periods and the possible consequences of failure to perform such actions, if the goods after the expiration of the specified periods pose a danger to the life, health and property of the buyer or become unsuitable for use by appointment;

g) location (address), company name (name) of the manufacturer (seller), location (address) of the organization (organizations) authorized by the manufacturer (seller) to accept claims from buyers and carrying out repairs and maintenance of goods, for imported goods - name of the country of origin of the goods;

(see text in the previous edition)

h) information on mandatory confirmation of compliance of goods (services) with mandatory requirements ensuring their safety for the life, health of the buyer, the environment and the prevention of harm to the buyer’s property in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation;

i) information on the rules for the sale of goods (performance of work, provision of services);

j) information about a specific person who will perform the work (provide a service), and information about him, if this is relevant based on the nature of the work (service);

l) information on the energy efficiency of goods for which the requirement for such information is determined in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation on energy saving and on increasing energy efficiency.

10. If the product purchased by the buyer has been used or the defect(s) have been eliminated, the buyer must be provided with information about this.

11. Information about the product, including its operating conditions and storage rules, is communicated to the buyer by placing it on the product, on electronic media attached to the product, in the product itself (on the electronic board inside the product in the menu section), on the container, packaging, label , label, in technical documentation or in any other way established by the legislation of the Russian Federation.

(see text in the previous edition)

Information on mandatory confirmation of conformity of goods is presented in the manner and in the ways established by the legislation of the Russian Federation on technical regulation, and includes information on the number of the document confirming such conformity, its validity period and the organization that issued it.

12. An offer of a product in its description addressed to an indefinite number of persons is recognized as a public offer if it is sufficiently defined and contains all the essential terms of the contract.

The seller is obliged to enter into an agreement with any person who has expressed an intention to purchase the goods proposed in his description.

13. The seller is obliged to inform the buyer about the period during which the offer to sell goods remotely is valid.

14. If the buyer sends a message to the seller about his intention to purchase the goods, the message must include:

a) the full company name (name) and address (location) of the seller, surname, name, patronymic of the buyer or the person indicated by him (recipient), the address to which the goods should be delivered;

b) name of the product, article number, brand, variety, number of items included in the package of the purchased product, price of the product;

c) type of service (if provided), time of its execution and cost;

d) buyer's obligations.

15. The buyer’s offer to send goods by post to the address “Poste restante” can only be accepted with the consent of the seller.

16. The seller must ensure the confidentiality of personal data about the buyer in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation in the field of personal data.

17. An organization that sells goods remotely provides the buyer with catalogs, booklets, brochures, photographs or other information materials, containing complete, reliable and accessible information characterizing the offered product.

18. The seller’s obligations to transfer the goods and other obligations associated with the transfer of goods arise from the moment the seller receives the buyer’s corresponding message about the intention to conclude an agreement.

19. The seller has no right to offer the consumer goods that are not specified in the initial offer of goods for sale.

It is not permitted to transfer to the consumer goods that do not comply with the preliminary agreement if such transfer is accompanied by a requirement to pay for the goods.

20. The contract is considered concluded from the moment the seller issues a cash or sales receipt or other document confirming payment for the goods to the buyer, or from the moment the seller receives a message about the buyer’s intention to purchase the goods.

When the buyer pays for goods in non-cash form or sells goods on credit (except for payment using bank payment cards), the seller is obliged to confirm the transfer of goods by drawing up an invoice or a goods acceptance certificate.

21. The buyer has the right to refuse the goods at any time before its transfer, and after the transfer of the goods - within 7 days.

If information on the procedure and timing for returning goods of proper quality was not provided in writing at the time of delivery of the goods, the buyer has the right to refuse the goods within 3 months from the date of delivery of the goods.

Return of goods of proper quality is possible if their presentation is preserved, consumer properties, as well as a document confirming the fact and conditions of purchase of the specified product. The buyer's absence of this document does not deprive him of the opportunity to refer to other evidence of the purchase of goods from this seller.

The buyer does not have the right to refuse a product of appropriate quality that has individually defined properties if the specified product can be used exclusively by the consumer purchasing it.

If the buyer refuses the goods, the seller must return to him the amount paid by the buyer in accordance with the contract, with the exception of the seller’s expenses for delivery of the returned goods from the buyer, no later than 10 days from the date the buyer presents the corresponding demand.

22. If the contract is concluded with the condition that the goods be delivered to the buyer, the seller is obliged to deliver the goods to the place specified by the buyer within the period established by the contract, and if the place of delivery of the goods is not specified by the buyer, then to his place of residence.

To deliver goods to the place specified by the buyer, the seller may use the services of third parties (with mandatory informing the buyer about this).

23. The seller is obliged to transfer the goods to the buyer in the manner and within the time limits established in the contract.

If the contract does not specify the delivery time for the goods and there is no way to determine this period, the goods must be transferred by the seller within a reasonable time.

An obligation not fulfilled within a reasonable time must be fulfilled by the seller within 7 days from the date the buyer submits a demand for its fulfillment.

For violation by the seller of the deadlines for transferring the goods to the buyer, the seller is liable in accordance with the civil legislation of the Russian Federation.

24. If the delivery of the goods was made within the terms established by the contract, but the goods were not transferred to the buyer through his fault, subsequent delivery is made within a new time frame agreed with the seller, after the buyer has re-paid the cost of services for delivery of the goods.

25. The seller is obliged to transfer to the buyer goods, the quality of which corresponds to the contract and the information provided to the buyer when concluding the contract, as well as information brought to his attention when transferring the goods (in the technical documentation attached to the goods, on labels, by marking or other means provided for certain types of goods).

If there are no conditions in the contract regarding the quality of the goods, the seller is obliged to transfer to the buyer goods suitable for the purposes for which goods of this kind are usually used.

If the seller, at the conclusion of the contract, was informed by the buyer about the specific purposes of purchasing the goods, the seller is obliged to transfer to the buyer the goods suitable for use in accordance with these purposes.

Unless otherwise provided by the contract, the seller is obliged, simultaneously with the transfer of the goods, to transfer to the buyer the relevant accessories, as well as documents related to the goods (technical passport, quality certificate, operating instructions, etc.) provided for by the legislation of the Russian Federation.

26. The delivered goods are transferred to the buyer at his place of residence or other address indicated by him, and in the absence of the buyer - to any person who presents a receipt or other document confirming the conclusion of the contract or registration of delivery of the goods.

27. If the goods are transferred to the buyer in violation of the terms of the contract regarding the quantity, assortment, quality, completeness, packaging and (or) packaging of the goods, the buyer may notify the seller of these violations no later than 20 days after receiving the goods.

If defects are discovered in a product for which warranty periods or expiration dates have not been established, the buyer has the right to make claims regarding defects in the product within a reasonable time, but within 2 years from the date of its transfer to the buyer, unless longer periods are established by law or contract.

The buyer also has the right to make claims against the seller regarding defects in the goods if they are discovered during the warranty period or expiration date.

28. The buyer to whom goods of inadequate quality were sold, unless this was agreed by the seller, has the right, at his own discretion, to demand:

a) free elimination of defects in the goods or reimbursement of expenses for their correction by the buyer or a third party;

b) a proportionate reduction in the purchase price;

c) replacement with a product of a similar brand (model, article) or with the same product of a different brand (model, article) with a corresponding recalculation of the purchase price. Moreover, in relation to technically complex and expensive goods, these buyer requirements are subject to satisfaction if significant deficiencies are discovered.

• 1 Online store: step by step plan discoveries
• 2 How much money do you need to start a business?
• 3 How much can you earn?
• 4 What equipment is needed for an online grocery store
• 5 Do you need permission to open an online grocery store?
• 6 What OKVED code must be specified to register an online grocery store?
• 7 What documents are needed to open a grocery online store?
• 8 Which tax system to choose to open a grocery online store
• 9 What can you sell in an online store of unique products
• 10 What should an online grocery store website look like?
• 11 Where to find suppliers for an online grocery store
• 12 Secrets of fast delivery: how to find a courier to transport products

The time of large supermarkets and retail chains is gradually becoming a thing of the past. Today, people have to visit several stores to purchase the goods they need, since hyper- and super-markets often offer a different range of products, even in the middle price range. Some offers may simply not be available in other stores.

If previously simply having a large number of goods on the shelves seemed like a miracle, today the spoiled buyer is becoming more and more capricious. Buyers no longer want to waste time traveling to several supermarkets, and even more so, walking from shelf to shelf for a long time, choosing the necessary product. This is especially noticeable after “office time” when many people go to stores after work.

An online store of unique products makes it possible to collect the most popular products in the form of cards to provide visitors with a wide range. To begin with, you can deliver products from supermarkets using the services of couriers, and over time, store the most popular goods in your own warehouse. This will make it possible to quickly provide customers with fresh and high-quality products.

Therefore, an online store, where you can choose goods without leaving your home, is an excellent alternative to a supermarket. An online store can not only offer the buyer an interesting selection of goods, but also solve problems such as saving time and, often, money.

Online store: step-by-step opening plan

Opening an online grocery store is more difficult than any other online store. If you work as an intermediary, delivering products from a supermarket, then it is unlikely that your store will become popular, although such a possibility is not excluded. But it is best to organize your own logistics system. Therefore you will need:

1. Find and rent storage space.
2. Purchase refrigeration equipment.
3. Rent a vehicle for food delivery, which must be equipped with a thermal body.
4. Create a store website.
5. Register a business.
6. Resolve issues of product supply and delivery to customers.
7. Create an advertising campaign.

How much money do you need to start a business?

Let’s say right away that it is profitable to open a large online grocery store either in a big city or rely on the most solvent population. Good advertising will help, which should convince people that shopping in an online store is not only profitable, but also prestigious.

So, when drawing up a business plan, you need to start from the prices that are relevant in the region. Taking into account business registration, rental of premises and transport, website creation, equipment purchase, advertising and payment courier delivery, you will need to invest from 300 thousand rubles at the very minimum level.

There is another option when the products are collected by a specially trained courier who receives order data from you. In this case, the time to generate one customer purchase will be 50% longer than from your own warehouse, which should be notified on the website in an advertising form. For example, presenting this as an advantage - only fresh products! Order collection at the same time as receipt!

How much can you earn

On average, an online grocery store pays for itself within six months. You can earn from 50 thousand rubles net at the start according to MSK and from 1 million with good business promotion - after 6 months.
The specific amount will depend on the products you have and traffic to the online store. It is advisable that at the initial stage the average traffic to your online store is at least 200 people per day. The next step will be promotion using contextual advertising, instant messengers and social networks.

What equipment is needed for an online grocery store?

The advantage of opening an online store is that it requires a minimum of equipment. You need to purchase: two phones, two computers and a printer, an uninterruptible power supply. At the second stage there are refrigerated chambers for storing food.

The secret of success lies in the work of the courier, who will ensure the start of the business. All first sales are carried out by group orders.

Do I need permission to open an online grocery store?

You do not need special permissions to open an online grocery store. A license is only required if you will be selling alcoholic products. It will require a special package of documents.

Consolidated orders allow you to significantly simplify your operations, since you only deliver the products to customers.

What OKVED code must be specified to register an online grocery store?

Most the best option OKVED code 47.99, relating to retail trade outside of stores, tents, markets. You can also indicate OKVED 52.61, which includes retail trade through teleshopping and social networks. If necessary, you can add code 64.12. - “Courier activities”.

What documents are needed to open a grocery online store?

First of all, you will need to register your store with the tax authorities as an individual entrepreneur; for it you will need a photocopy of your passport, a receipt for payment of the state duty and an application. Since the store assumes the presence of a warehouse, you will need to obtain permits from the fire inspectorate and the SES.

Which taxation system to choose to open a grocery online store

The best option for any store, including an online grocery store - UTII. This is convenient, since the amount of tax does not depend on income, and arriving at a grocery store, as a rule, brings in a significant amount.

What can you sell in an online store of unique products?

Any buyer wants to purchase fresh, environmentally friendly products. Moreover, at a relatively affordable price. The policy of the online store can be based on this. The “trick” of your business may be products that cannot be purchased at other outlets, for example, unusual pastries, salads, pickles, etc. But let the assortment be as diverse as possible. It can be

• vegetables and fruits from the “garden”;
• farm dairy products and eggs;
• meat and fish (fresh and frozen);
• semi-finished delicacies;
• “homemade” sausages;
• bakery and confectionery products;
• seafood;
• alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

You can offer ready-made business lunches, street food, products from foreign manufacturers and, along with this, products from farmers. You need to decide how much you are willing to invest in the business and what opportunities you have for organizing it. But the larger the assortment, the sooner the store will pay for itself.

What should an online grocery store website be like?

The website of an online grocery store should include the online store itself, a procurement processing system and an online warehouse. Required nice photos and a high-quality description of the product; without this, sales will not work, no matter how excellent the assortment is. You should take care of the site interface, which should be as convenient as possible for the buyer.

It is desirable that the navigation be represented by both text and graphic elements. Of course, the design must be responsive for mobile devices.

First of all, you need to pay attention to the “Cart”; it should include the ability not only to add an item, but also to replace it with a similar one from the recent list viewed by the user. Selected items must be saved if the tab is closed. You can add a section with special offers and seasonal products if they may interest the client.

It is equally important to resolve payment issues. The more payment options you offer, the more convenient it will be for the buyer. Payment via courier, card or online services should be used.

Where to find suppliers for an online grocery store

After starting a business, you definitely need to expand your range. The option with couriers, although reliable, is just the start of a business. To get a really high-quality product, you need to spend some time searching for reliable suppliers. And although there are many opportunities to find business partners, finding quality manufacturers still remains a challenge. Some store owners change several dozen suppliers a year to get the product they want. What actions need to be taken to find suppliers for an online grocery store?

1. Search on the Internet

Most likely, good wholesale suppliers will be found after ten pages viewed in the search engine. But it’s still worth a try. Such a variety of offers as in World Wide Web, you are unlikely to find it anywhere else. Here you can find products that will diversify your product range. These can be products of Japanese and Asian cuisine, vegetarian, dietary, etc. You can search in the database of wholesale suppliers

1. Visiting agricultural fairs and exhibitions

Of course, this will take time, but the results can be very satisfactory. It is at exhibitions and fairs that you can find opportunities to supply eco-products: honey, butter, flour, milk. Moreover, at prices affordable for the buyer and directly from the manufacturer.

1. Supply from farmers and manufacturers

It is possible that you will be able to come to an agreement with farmers and owners of small workshops producing meat products and semi-finished products. This is a guarantee that your product will be different from the products of other farm shops and online stores.

Secrets of fast delivery: how to find a courier to transport products

There are three main ways to find couriers to deliver groceries. If you want to save money you can search:

• through an advertisement on a vacancy website;

decreased interest in hypermarkets and large retail chains. The main interest of the modern buyer is efficiency: it is important for him not to get out of the daily rhythm of life and not to spend a lot of time on the purchasing process. Therefore, he increasingly prefers small grocery stores within close proximity or even purchasing groceries online.

We'll tell you what the Grocery Online Retail market looks like in the West and what its specifics are in Russia.

Western statistics

According to survey results, 36% of consumers plan to make grocery purchases online in 2018. This is 14% more than in the previous year and 24% more than three years ago.

One of the significant factors that influences the desire to make purchases online is the banal opportunity to make such purchases provided by the store itself.

In 2017, every fifth customer did not buy groceries online simply because the store did not have the appropriate option.

Home delivery is the most popular option among online shoppers, but statistics suggest it's still important to give customers choice.

So, 78% of users have not made purchases online. But why? Researchers identify several key reasons:

• 41% - “I like to go to the store every week”;
• 36% - “I don’t want to pay more”;
• 33% - “I don’t like that someone else collects/chooses my food”;
• 25% - “The local store does not offer this opportunity”;
• 11% - “I was going to, but didn’t find the time.”

In 2017, the vast majority of those who made a purchase online did so at least again. And more than half do this at least once a month.

This suggests that, as a rule, one purchase is enough for the client to appreciate all the benefits and convenience of online shopping. Most online stores that offer a user-friendly interface and overall good user experience can easily turn casual shoppers into regular ones.

However, if the delivery service is not convenient enough, this will definitely affect sales. Thus, 76% of buyers said that they would change an online store if it did not provide a sufficiently comfortable user experience. And this is not the only reason why a buyer may leave for competitors. The researchers identified five more:

• 65% - “There are more coupons and offers at another store”;
• 58% - “Another store has lower shipping costs”
• 40% - “Delivery is faster in another store”;
• 36% - “There are personal offers in another store”;
• 35% - “Another store has a weekly promotion that allows me to create my shopping list.”

And, if we talk about the amenities provided, customers of online stores have already developed certain preferences. Most in similar services they value the following things:

• 34% of customers would switch stores if they weren't able to communicate with the person collecting their order while they were shopping. Moreover, 51% said that they want to be able to communicate with the “collector” in real time.
• 56% of customers would like the seller to offer a replacement if the selected product is out of stock. 52% - so that it offers products with a discount or special offer.
• 55% want to know when their order is ready through a real-time conversation, 63% want the in-store pickup location for their order to be clearly and clearly marked, and 52% want to be able to check their order at the pickup point.

And finally, the researchers created a portrait of the client who will make purchases in 2018.

Specifics of the Russian market

The domestic market is significantly inferior to the Western one. Thus, according to a report by the Association of Internet Trade Companies, online grocery sales amount to only 2% from the Russian e-commerce market.

However, there is reason to believe that significant changes await this sector in the future. Hope for this is primarily given by the fact that Russia is adopting Western trends belatedly. At the rate consulting company PricewaterhouseCoopers, 14% of Russians have tried to buy food online at least once, and in the near future this number is expected to only grow.

Secondly, experts believe that online grocery trading will become the most profitable area for investment in Russian eCommerce in the next few years. According to forecasts, this is the only segment of online trading that will increase turnover in 2018.

From the reports of the investment bank UBS it follows that eCommerce in Russia used to grow due to non-food products. But in 2018-2022, the growth in sales of non-food products will slow down to 14.7%, and the eCommerce product market will experience strong growth (up to 26.1%). The forecast shows that in five years the share of online grocery trading in all eCommerce will grow up to 3.3%

Although these are only forecasts, we can already talk about the prerequisites for the growth of this segment. Already in the first weeks of 2018, Russians began to order food from online services more often. Observedincrease in the number of orders in pizzerias (+30%), restaurants (+31%) and food delivery services (+40%).

But if we are talking about online sales groceries, and not orders of ready-made dishes, then here too a specific portrait begins to form among the Russian consumer. Study Marketing company Nielsen has revealed statistics on how potential customers behave when shopping for groceries online:

The main representatives of online grocery trading in Russia

Delivery of products		Delivery of ready food
Name	Based	Name	Based
"Platypus"	2000		2009
Da-Mart	2011	"Podnesi.ru"	2011
"At HomeTasters"	2013	"Chef Cook"	2012
"Globus Gourmet"	2013	ZakaZaka	2013
Metro	2013	"Milty"	2016
"Auchan"	2014	"I would eat it"	2017
"OK"	2015	told that the market lacks logisticians who could deliver products in compliance with sanitary standards, taking into account temperature zones and other factors important for the industry. Representatives of the courier SDEK services explain that food is a niche topic, not a universal one. This type of delivery has many different requirements and conditions, and most logistics companies They are simply not suited for such work. This explains the lack of offers on the market. CEO of LED agency Leonid Dovladbegyan believes that online trading can be moved from a dead point by lifting the ban on the remote sale of alcohol. Recently the Ministry of Health blocked a bill on the sale of alcohol on the Internet, but, according to Dovladbegyan, only this can significantly stimulate sales. Another problem is the “maturation” of potential buyers. The older generation, for the most part, has not gone through the stages of digital evolution, and is either not ready or does not know how to make online purchases. The generation that is ready for such actions has only grown up - and in the near future all adults will be ready for such technologies. Another disadvantage Russian market technological underdevelopment becomes. In the West, so-called smart speakers (or smart speakers) are becoming a trend: a device that is controlled by voice and allows you to create task lists, play music, set alarms - and, of course, make purchases. A 2017 study showed that one in five respondents owned such a speaker, and this number will grow next year. At the same time, 29% of smart speaker owners made purchases with its help. However, no similar Russian service does not offer interaction with such innovations. conclusions The Russian market for online sales of products is at the very beginning of its development. However, many experts are already arguing that this will become the cornerstone of eCommerce development in the country in the coming years. The most daring forecasts foretell the death of the classic grocery retail market, which will finally be replaced by online. But on the way to this, Russian online hypermarkets face quite a few problems, which they must address.