Home / Academy / Card shop business plan
Free video training · Watch now
Card shop business plan: what to include and the numbers that matter
A card shop runs on thin margins and hard-to-get product. A real plan tells you, before you sign a lease, whether the numbers work. Here's what goes in one. Want to see a full plan built step by step? Get the free video training.
Free · Video · Watch anytime
Get the free training
About 14 minutes. It plays right after you sign up. See the class.
- The 9 sections lenders, landlords and distributors want to see.
- Where the money really is. Hint: not sealed boxes.
- Break-even math you can do on a napkin.
Updated October 2026
The short answer
A card shop business plan should cover nine things: a summary, your local market and competition, what you'll sell, your location, how you'll get product (distributors), your events plan, marketing, operations and staff, and the financials: startup costs, monthly costs, sales forecast and break-even point. The most important page is the last one. If the break-even number looks impossible, change the plan before you sign anything.
In this guide
The 9 sections of a card shop business plan
- Summary. One page: what the shop is, who it serves, how much you need, and when it breaks even. Write it last.
- Market and competition. Which games your area plays, the nearest shops and what they do badly, and local events that already draw players.
- What you'll sell. Sealed product, singles, supplies, grading submissions, buylists, online sales, and events.
- Location. Foot traffic, parking, room for play tables, and rent as a share of expected sales.
- Product and distribution. Which distributors you'll apply to, what they require, and your plan while you wait. See how to get a card distributor.
- Events. A weekly calendar: which games, which nights, entry fees and prizes. Events are what bring the same people back.
- Marketing. Google Business Profile, local search, social and opening-week plans.
- Operations. Hours, staff, point of sale, inventory system, buying from the public, security.
- Financials. Startup costs, monthly costs, a 12-month sales forecast and your break-even point.
Startup costs to budget for
Costs swing widely by city and size, so build your own numbers. Here's what to put a number next to:
| Cost | What drives it |
|---|---|
| Opening inventory | Usually the biggest check. Distributors want orders paid up front. |
| Lease | Deposit plus the first months' rent. Size, street and city. |
| Build-out and fixtures | Display cases, shelving, play tables and chairs, lighting, signs. |
| Systems | Point of sale, inventory software, card pricing, website and online store. |
| Business setup | LLC, EIN, resale certificate, local licenses, insurance. |
| Marketing for opening | Grand opening event, signage, local ads. |
| Cash reserve | Several months of expenses in the bank. New shops take time to find their regulars. |
The paperwork side is covered in how to start a card shop.
Where a card shop makes money
| Revenue stream | Margin | Role in the plan |
|---|---|---|
| Sealed product | Thin at retail price | Brings people in. Hot sets are allocated, so you rarely get enough. |
| Singles | Strong when you buy well | The engine. Bought from collections and buylists, sold one by one. |
| Buying collections | The best in the hobby | Every customer can be a supplier. |
| Supplies | High | Sleeves, binders, deck boxes, toploaders. Small tickets, steady profit. |
| Events | Good, and it repeats | Entry fees plus everything players buy while they're there. |
| Online sales | Varies with fees | Moves the cards your local crowd doesn't buy. |
| Grading submissions | Service fee per card | A reason for collectors to visit. See grading. |
Watch a shop plan get built
The free training fills in a real plan, section by section, with the numbers.
Break-even math
Break-even is the sales you need each month to cover your costs. One formula:
Break-even monthly sales = monthly fixed costs ÷ your average gross margin
Here's the math with made-up numbers. Use your own.
| Monthly fixed cost (example) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Rent | $2,500 |
| Payroll | $3,000 |
| Utilities and internet | $400 |
| Software and point of sale | $150 |
| Insurance | $150 |
| Total | $6,200 |
If your sales average a 35% gross margin, break-even is $6,200 ÷ 0.35 ≈ $17,700 a month, or about $590 a day if you're open every day. Now ask: how many customers is that, at what average sale? That one question has saved a lot of people from a bad lease.
Notice what moves the answer most: margin. Push your mix toward singles, collections, supplies and events, and the sales you need fall fast.
Your distributor plan
Most distributors and official tournament programs want a storefront, a registered business and a resale certificate. Hot products are allocated, and new accounts get small allocations. Your plan should say how you'll stock the shelves while you build history: buying collections, secondary wholesalers, and singles. Full details are in how to get a card distributor.
Plans that fail, and why
| Mistake | What happens | Do this instead |
|---|---|---|
| Planning around sealed product | Thin margins, and you can't get enough of what sells | Build the plan on singles, supplies and events |
| No cash reserve | A slow first season closes the doors | Keep several months of costs in the bank |
| Rent too high for the sales | You work for the landlord | Check rent against your break-even number first |
| No events plan | No regulars | A weekly calendar from day one |
| Spreadsheet inventory | Mispriced cards and lost sales | An inventory system with prices that update |
The full program
Card Shop Launch Masterclass
From idea to opening day: the plan, the paperwork, the product, the systems and the first customers. Built by the team that sets up websites, stores, inventory and marketing for card businesses.
- Pick your pathOnline, show table or storefront, and when to move up.
- The business planFill in the workbook, section by section, with real numbers.
- Paperwork and accountsLLC, EIN, resale certificate, bank, insurance, local permits.
- Getting distributionWhat distributors check, and how to look ready.
- Location and layoutChoosing a space, and a floor plan that sells and seats players.
- Inventory and systemsPoint of sale, card pricing and selling online from one stock list.
- Events that bring people backA weekly calendar, entry fees and prizes that pay.
- Opening month marketingGoogle Business Profile, local search and a launch event.
- Bonus: business plan template and opening budget spreadsheet
- Bonus: distributor-readiness checklist
- Bonus: a 30-minute planning call with the Greedy TCG team
Start here
Free
Watch the 14-minute training first. You'll see how to unlock the full class after.
Watch the free training- 8 recorded lessons
- Plan template and budget sheet
- 30-minute planning call
Who's teaching
We build the systems card shops run on.
Greedy TCG started as a reseller crew. Now we set up websites, online stores, inventory systems, local SEO and events for card businesses. Want it done for you instead? Get a quote or meet the team.
We don't promise distributor approval, allocations or sales numbers. Nobody honest can.
Questions
Common questions
What should a card shop business plan include?
A summary, your market and competition, what you'll sell, location, how you'll get product, an events plan, marketing, operations and staffing, and financials with startup costs, monthly costs, a sales forecast and a break-even point.
How much does it cost to open a card shop?
It depends on your city, the size of the space and how much opening inventory you buy. Inventory is usually the biggest cost, followed by the lease and fixtures. Keep several months of expenses in reserve on top.
Is a card shop profitable?
It can be. Shops that last make most of their money on singles, buying collections, supplies and events, and use sealed product to bring people in. Shops that rely on hot sealed product usually struggle.
Do I need a business plan to get a distributor?
Distributors mostly check that you're a real retail business: storefront, registered company, resale certificate and sometimes photos. A plan helps you meet those requirements and is often needed for a loan or a lease.
Is the training really free?
Yes. The video training is free. At the end we'll tell you about the paid Masterclass. Buying it is optional.
Free video training
Run the numbers before you sign the lease.
Free, about 14 minutes. It plays right after you sign up.
More classes: selling on Whatnot · grading for profit · Pokémon card investing · all classes