What is running a liquor store like day to day?

Picture the counter, then picture the rest of the week. A liquor store is a retail business with rules attached to its sales, and someone must make sure they are followed. Before you commit, spend time in the store and ask what a normal week looks like. This page lists what to test. It gives no view on whether the work suits you.

Hours and who covers them

Ask how long the store opens, including evenings and weekends, and who opens, who closes and who steps in when someone is sick. If the seller works most shifts, plan for what happens when you take that over, or when you need a day off. Ask how many people can run the store alone, and what the schedule looks like in a quiet month.

Checking ID and training staff

Every sale involves a decision about whether to serve. Ask how staff are trained, how new hires learn to check ID and refuse a sale, and what the store does when a refusal turns difficult. The regulator’s handbook for retail stores is the place to start, and your lawyer can tell you which parts apply to you.

Receiving, counting and the busy weeks

Deliveries need someone to check what arrived against the invoice, shelve it and rotate the stock. Find out how counts are done, how shrink is tracked, and who reviews the results. Then ask about seasonal peaks, such as holidays, and how the store staffs and stocks for them. Our guide to buying this kind of store covers the wider steps.