Start A Vape Shop Business - Business Ideas

Updated: September 16th, 2022
Start A Vape Shop Business

Please note that the data provided in this article are estimates and may vary depending on various factors, and should not be considered as perfect or definitive.

The global e-cigarette and vape market is expected to keep rising over the next years. Vapers are attracted to the marketable technology and flavorings seen in vaping devices.

According to statistics, around 7% of adults vape, and up to 20% of existing smokers vape.

If you are looking for a business idea you can launch at the strip mall, starting a vape shop is an irresistible opportunity.

To open a vape shop, partner with an experienced and reliable e-liquid wholesaler. Then research the market, so you understand your target market and have a clear picture of what they expect. Finding a good location for your vape shop will help you maximize sales.

Starting a vape shop business requires a great deal of effort, dedication, and most importantly passion.

If you're interested in how to sell vape, or selling vape online, you can use this page as a guide for everything you'll need to know.

Key Stats

market size
$12.4B
starting costs
$13.7K
gross margin
40%
time to build
210 days

Startup Costs

Min Startup Costs Max Startup Costs

Office Space Expenses

$0

$7,000

Inventory Expenses

$350

$14,750

Software Expenses

$150

$2,794

Website Costs

$13

$215

Advertising & Marketing Costs

$0

$2,450

Total Startup Costs

$513

$27,209

Successful Businesses

Business URL Rank

Swagg Sauce

swaggsauce.com

12,852

Flawless Vape Shop

flawlessvapeshop.com

95,237

Vapor Authority

vaporauthority.com

167,791

eLiquid

eliquid.com

176,118

VAPO - Vape NZ

vapo.co.nz

218,946

VapeStation

vapestation.pk

466,954

Vape Vandal

vapevandal.com

1,428,251

Upper Limits

upperlimitsinc.com

6,165,565

Pros & Cons

Pros Description

Flexibility

You can put as much time into the business as you'd like. If you like the work and have some initial experience, you can start small and manage all aspects of the business on your own.

Ability to start your business from home

It's not necessary to have a physical storefront or office space to get your business started. You can do everything from the comfort of your own home, at least in the beginning!

Little startup costs required

The cost to start a vape shop business costs significantly less money than most businesses, ranging anywhere from 12 to 27,209.

Rewarding work

Starting a vape shop business can be really rewarding work. After all, you are solving an immediate issue for your customer and you're working on something you truly care about.

Scalable

With businesses and processes changing daily, there will always be demand for new features, products and services for your business. Additionally, there are several different business models and pricing tiers you can implement that will allow you to reach all types of customers.

Traffic to your website

A vape shop business gives people a reason to visit your website and to keep coming back to you!

Cons Description

Crowded Space

Competition is high when it comes to your vape shop business, so it's important that you spend a good amount of time analyzing the market and understanding where the demand lies.

Finding The Right Supplier

Most businesses in this space go the supplier/manufacturer route, which isn't a bad thing! However, finding the right supplier can take a lot of time, energy and trial/error. If done properly, this process can save you months (if not years) of time and energy. More on this below in the "finding a supplier" section.

Security Issues

With any Saas business, data loss and security issues may arise throughout your process of building your product. It's critical that you understand exactly what you're responsible for and how to avoid potential issues down the road.

Lack of benefits

With a vape shop business, you are typically self-employed and responsible for finding your own insurance, which can be quite costly and time-consuming.

Isolation

Often times, as a vape shop business, you typically work alone and do not have much face-to-face interaction with other team members.

Taxes

As a vape shop business, you typically pay self-employment taxes which can be quite high. It's important to understand what you will be paying in taxes each year so you can determine if the work you're taking on is worth it.