How to Set Up Your Own Convenience Store Business in the Philippines

You might have probably noticed it already, but there are people still awake even way past midnight. They might be looking for a place where they can buy small things – snacks, cigarettes, probably batteries, cooking oil and a can of tuna perhaps, or some eggs, up to even small electronic devices. Some of them might even be working on night shifts, them being the product of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) office boom.

These are some of the reasons why convenience stores are heaven sent. There is a growing number of Filipinos out on the streets looking for a store where they can conveniently pick up small things they need and their changing lifestyles are helping convenience stores mushroom in just about any nook and cranny in the metro.

Having a convenience store means anticipating a round the clock activity. Here are some guides you must keep in mind to help you achieve and set up your own convenience store:

Convenience Store Business in the Philippines

Image Credit: Joseph Mischyshyn

Location Matters

While location seems to be the starting point people think about when they start their businesses, it might not necessarily follow suit when you start planning where you will place your shop.

Technically you should be at a center of a diameter where people would come from. A radius could be a short walk from a condominium unit perhaps, and across that radius would be a subdivision where more people would be coming from. Another radius would be from a BPO site. You can check a map to show where your potential public may be coming from.

Your store might just as well be a few blocks away from people, but they will still be reaching you once the sari-sari store or any other store closes and they have no other option but to walk or even ride to where you are.

Be Service Oriented

What sets convenience stores apart from the sari-sari store, or even those big grocery stores, is customer service. This is one add-on value that you will be offering.

Your staff and the customer will mostly interact at the counter where products for “impulse purchases” are displayed. Some merchandise like cigarettes, lighters, batteries, up to even toys will be placed near or on the counter table.

Your staff should then be aware of your customers’ needs. Small technical knowledge can be of help — how well will you be able to answer their queries when they ask for cellphone load, for example. Most of the time, or virtually EVERY time, you will be needing to deal with people coming in and out of your shop for a variety of differing needs.

Get ready too to have occasional promotions and offers. These too will be a nice add-on value, while at the same time attracting even more potential customers. You are even encouraged to do this on your opening day.

Remember that this is not just a business that sells products, you are also providing services. Having a quality service entails you to be quick and efficient, as well as having a savvy line up of personnel that will cater to your customers’ needs. Your revenue will start trickling in once you master this approach.

Stock Up Conveniently

You do not have to need to stock up with everything a grocery has. Just about the barest of peoples’ essentials is what you will need to keep your store stocked. Your primary mission is to provide your customers mainly basic commodities, to select food products, and other needed goods.

Also, keep eyes on customers buying patterns. This will help you evaluate what wares you should be focusing upon.

Having said these, the core of the matter is providing access to basic needs, and making your customers comfortable. Your costumers will be more willing to spend money when they feel they can grab what they need conveniently from your store.

Shifting Schedules of Employees and Managers

As the business needs to be open virtually non-stop, you must keep track of your personnel schedule as well as the turnout of your inventory.

Our labor rules state a basic eight-hour working schedule. Dividing the day by it, and you will need three shifts. You will need a flat hierarchy to keep your overhead for workers’ wages down. Your personnel will have to be flexible enough to handle most of the work and chores needed in your store operation.

Concurrently you need to take into consideration when you stock up. The best way to handle your inventory would be the time where you notice the least number of customers going in. This way, your staff will have little worries and more time to focus on tallying merchandize going in and out, as well as balancing the cash in their cashier machines.

By the time you consider these things, other matters as setting up the store, designing its interior, procuring stocks and pricing your merchandise will be a breeze. But keep in mind that the most important thing to consider is how much convenience you will offer to your market.

And that’s all that matters in this business.

Too much of a hassle? You might want to look into a 7-Eleven or Mini-Stop franchise.




20 responses to “How to Set Up Your Own Convenience Store Business in the Philippines”

  1. Where and how can you kind the essentials for a convenience store such as hot food steam cabinet and slurpee machine, the likes?

  2. reychiel evalla says:

    any contact info’s of business consultants pls.

  3. Hi I would like to open a small Convenience store in panabo, Davao city. What are the things need to do?How much capital we need to open a new store? Can u guide me? Thanks

  4. joan says:

    I want to.put up convenience store in Misamis Occidental please help and assit

  5. Anna Paola Oballo says:

    Good day! I am looking for the best advice in putting up a business. What business are good and in demand? Thank you!

  6. Joan Cher Bahi-an says:

    i want to start up a convenience store business here in davao can you help me?

  7. rodeth montanez says:

    hi i want to build a small convenience store in pasay but my nationality is chinese. can you assistme about the things that needs to do.thak you

  8. Cecille says:

    Planning to put up also mini convenient store,where can i get reliable, good quality of things i will need..for example ice.cream machine, juice dispenser, food container to keep it warm

  9. Janet says:

    I would like to put up convenient store…. How much does it cost?

  10. Chiclet says:

    Hi i want to put up a convenience store in cagayan de oro…but how?

  11. EDISON CARAOS says:

    I’m planning to put up a mini convenient/grocery store in our area, please I need your kind opinion and advise.

    Edison Caraos

  12. Christine d. Roxas says:

    My in laws and i are planning to put up a small grocery store within their place. How much money should we invest and what are the things that we should consider in order for our business to succeed? Tnx Godbless

  13. Lucio torres says:

    Hi i am planning to open a small sari sari store like convenient store can you please give me some ideas on how can i set up my store for a small amountvof capital for a start up like 30k initial capital thanks

  14. Eloisa Abalos says:

    Hi I want to open a convenience store here in Nueva Ecija do you offer any seminar on how to start the business?

  15. Kalwinder says:

    I want to open mini mart here in San Carlos City Pangasinan. Help me please

  16. juanita balongcas says:

    hi good day i want to start my grocery store business can you help me, please hoping for your positive response

  17. Regina Sable says:

    Hello, I’m planning to have a convenience store in my area. How much is the capital?

  18. Maria liza cuyog says:

    Hi i amplanning to open a small convineince how much does it cost do you think? In metro manila area.

  19. Haidz says:

    Good day po…i just bought vacant lot for planning to have a business…its a corner lot along national hiway in our province…hope you can help me to design my mini general merchandise I’ve planning. Thank you hope not really costs a lot..😊

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