Starting a Smoke Shop business. Female Owned and operated. Tips and tricks.

10 Important Things ive learned from Owning/ Operating a Kava Bar and Smoke Shop and tips and tricks to help get you started!!
1. Location is everything. You need proper parking, traffic flow. Pay a little extra money monthly on rent and get a bomb location and it will certainly pay off.
2. Expand your hours to beat your competitors.
3. Expand your inventory and get new products regularly!
4. Don’t run out of certain flavors/products
5. Credit card processing!
6. The best way to introduce a new product is to get the WHOLE line.
7. Get a business credit card
8. Take care of your employees.
9. Be active on social media
10. POS….invest in a good pos system and get yourself a scanner from the start and learn how to input products in your pos system using a scanner.
A handful of Misc. tips
Get a scheduling app for your employees. I love Homebase it is soooo easy.
Go to Champs Trade show. Vegas is definitely the best show of the year but there are also other shows we’ve been to Daytona and Denver and they were good but Vegas is the holey Grail for our industry.
If a customer asks if you have an item and you dont have it chances are you should probably grab that next time you are at the Distro because its probably not going to be the last time you hear about it. RAW challenge cone and synthetic urine for example are actually a staple to have in the store even though it will take a special customer to pick that up.
Set all of your bills to automatic bill pay so you aren’t stressing about taking care of those things im sure you have a lot of other things you are working on if you are an entrepreneur. Make your life easier. Set yourself up for success.
Try to create balance with your business and personal home life.
Set cash aside for sales tax…
Get a scanner app I love Adobe Scan for all of my important documents
Ask your customers for google reviews and a thumbs up on Apple Maps, offer them a free preroll. Things like this really helped our store be put on the map in our town.
FIVERR is an amazing app for graphic design if you are super busy and dont have the time or talent to design t-shirts, menus, logos, stickers whatever….. get this app and you basically hire someone on the app to do your design and some of the artists on there are AMAZING…..We use this app for both of our stores created logos, t-shirts, menus….a ton of work done and its not super expensive. It takes them usually a week - 10 days to complete their masterpiece.
If you are a smoke shop in Florida that sells CBD, hemp products. Banks turn you away so fast! Don’t even try to get around it and just say you sell “nicotine” and tobacco. Once underwriting does their due diligence and finds out you carry CBD they will shut your account down leaving you scrambling to get a new account. Our Bank is First Citizens they accept CBD clients. They do make you go through a application process and you can send them your COAs but at least there is no question and you know your account is safe they know exactly what you do you pay a small compliance fee every month and everyone is happy…..
I’ve learned: Take it one day at a time its a marathon not a race. ROME wasn’t built in a day they say. Don’t be hard on yourself for all the things you have to do it all comes in due time.
I hope this information helps someone out there. I’d love to hear your questions if you have any.

[@E-LuxeLLC]

I randomly came across this video. I'm so happy to see another lady owning a shop and sharing tips. I have a store in PA and these are all good tips. I definitely need to get a life outside of business. ❤

[@joeybetancourt4040]

This is a great video. I think we would all love to see more !

[@np14832]

Excellent video!! Thank You

[@Netalist9]

Extremely helpful video, I own a shop in south Florida called Fattys Smoke Shop and all of this info was extremely useful!

[@FemaleSmokeShopOwner]

Awesome! Good luck to you and your shop!

[@whathuh6965]

What? Fatty's Smoke Shop location is in Waco, Texas. I don't recall there being a South Florida location. What's the link to your website?

[@mohammedtohidulislam4557]

So Amazing business I love it ❤️

[@CutFlowKev]

Very helpful video. These are very basics of having the store become consistent. One question, any recommendations for employee payroll?

[@FemaleSmokeShopOwner]

The easiest is to download QuickBooks Payroll. You create an account, link your bank account and pay a monthly fee for the service. Employee taxes are done for you as well! SO that’s definitely the easy route! It is customizable so you can set the hourly rate, give them option for tips or create automatic salary payments. Also setting up your employees is easy as well! You can either fill out their information or QuickBooks has this option for “self set up” and they fill out their tax info and bank account number! It’s so easy i highly reccomend!

[@andywoo8543]

WOW，helpful

[@Hassaansyed85]

What’s the average profit margin for a smoke shop?

[@AHA500]

You should get there an hour plus early not 15min and open on Monday-Saturdays no matter what. If your serious about your money that is.

[@paytonreborn4937]

even most managers don’t arrive 1hr+ 😭 its usually always 30-15 mins. if you need a lot of time doing your opening process for your store then yeah but it never takes that long and going to work an hour early before opening does not make you more serious about your money than others😭 vid was made to help people start business not made people who dont even own businesses to criticize

[@paytonreborn4937]

well i should say this video was made for those wanting to open a SMOKE SHOP not those who run different kinds of businesses and think its all the same process procedures

[@treqzabidi2734]

Hey guys I need enlightening I opened a new smoke shop next to a busy bar and 24hrs gym but the first few days is slow three to five customers a day I feel little bit challenged

[@FemaleSmokeShopOwner]

It is going to take time.If you have extra space try to contact Celsius or Mitra-9 to get a refrigerator and carry drinks. People that go to the gym love that kind of stuff. If you haven’t already put LED signs in the windows draw attention. Get an A-Frame sign and put on there NEW BUSINESS GRAND OPENING SPECIALS or something like that. Do what you need to do. You’ve got this!

[@treqzabidi2734]

Cool thank you for the information yeah I will do that A frame LED light and promote the business in social media

[@tonymoran2487]

What's are some aamples deoap

[@bibin48]

I am from Tampa and trying to open a store here .. can we meet you in person in your store to get more advise .....

[@conradgonsalves6880]

How about SEO marketing do they really work in growing your business or even website do we really need a website?

[@FemaleSmokeShopOwner]

That’s a great question! If you are in a slower traffic area and business is not picking up as quickly as you would like you may want to use a professional for marketing! For us we had many unsuccessful attempts at doing our own marketing! We tried Valpak coupons and it was honestly a waste of money, we tried advertising on google ourselves and social media. Google and Instagram/facebook will shut down your ads if you are advertising CBD, Delta-8, Kratom, mushrooms, etc. We created a website to sell our products online. We know many smoke shop owners who are super successful without the marketing or website. (Their biggest flex is LOCATION, parking, high traffic area)

[@candlesbypurplerose1010]

Please provide list of banks that accept cbd customers Thank you

[@FemaleSmokeShopOwner]

So we had a huge problem trying to find a bank in Florida that accepts CBD stores. First Citizens was the only bank that would take us (there was a short application we pay a small compliance fee every month) we had to submit all the COAs for our products etc.) Now I’ve spoke with other owners and there are ways around it, if you are labeled a “Convenience store” Fifth Third, Chase, and other banks may accept you but I can’t guarantee. So First Citizens was the only one we found.

[@Clubskunk]

Really helpful video, I’m about to open up one in 2 months , where is this best place for distributing getting the vapes? I have couple connections but any you would recommend , best things to put up on the shelves . Thank you and looking forward to more videos

[@FemaleSmokeShopOwner]

So you should check out your local distributors to start. We shopped locally when we had more time with our first shop….after you get busier you can set up delivery. Also definitely check out the Champs trade shows when they come to Florida, you will meet owners of amazing Distributors and owners of big companies it is always best to order directly through the owners.

[@Clubskunk]

@@FemaleSmokeShopOwner I’m located tri state area , nj , they ever come to nyc ? Thank you so much for ur response appreciate it a lot

[@FemaleSmokeShopOwner]

Hey guys. Apply for an American Express Card with this link. With your new Card, you could earn a welcome bonus and your friend could earn a referral bonus. Terms Apply. americanexpress.com/en-us/referral/businessgold-card?ref=SHAROM5MFp&xl=cpzz5

[@ginmemushaj8872]

Question, how do you put your shop in google maps ?

[@FemaleSmokeShopOwner]

You request to start a business profile on google. (Don’t go through a third party) You can definitely do it yourself same with Apple Maps. You create your account I believe it takes some time to be approved on your account you can edit your hours, photos, see reviews, link your website…etc.

[@amberditta]

How do we contact you for businesses advise???

[@khansohaila4563]

Where can buy the product from

[@FemaleSmokeShopOwner]

You can do a search in your local area: Hemp, Nicotine Distributors near me. We have a few in the Tampa area that we go to. Depending on the state you will need your EIn Letter/ resale certificate with you.

[@user-ku3pw1qc4z]

What kind of scanner do you recommend using?

[@parrisgrant10]

Did you and your fiancé find out of pocket or with loans and credit

[@FemaleSmokeShopOwner]

We put a lot of our money into the store, have a partner, built up slowly.

[@ginmemushaj8872]

Im opening a new smoke shop , im 70% in the process

[@lukepotter4289]

I am also in the process. Where did you start?

[@ginmemushaj8872]

Im almost done with decorating it , so i should be ready in like a week or so , where are you located which state ?

[@ginmemushaj8872]

@@lukepotter4289 im in AZ

[@josue3156]

@@ginmemushaj8872just opened in Florida one week open best of luck to y’all

[@parrisgrant10]

Did yu get funding or you funded everything out your pocket

[@SouravKumar-uy9mg]

Hi can is there any way that ti can contact tou

[@MiraLau-fk1ov]

hate to pitch everywhere🥲.. but if anyone needs to wholesale vape, I work for a vape factory

[@myapp4889]

How do we connect?

[@parrisgrant10]

Yes I would love to connect