Resale of vintage clothing is booming. With changing attitudes towards responsible fashion and the growing popularity of thrift stores among the younger generation, opening your own vintage boutique is a sound business opportunity. But in concrete terms, what budget do you need to set aside to launch a profitable thrift shop? Here's a professional and realistic guide, based on the experience of hundreds of United Vintage customers.
🧭 Define your model: physical, online, or hybrid?
Before we talk numbers, let's define the type of thrift store you want to open:
Physical thrift store: boutique or corner, with walk-in business
Friperie en ligne: e-commerce website, Vinted, Instagram
Hybrid model: boutique + website, or participation in markets/vide-dressing
💡 Today, the hybrid model is the most flexible and profitable, especially in the early stages of business.
💰 Estimated overall budget for a successful opening
| Expense item | Physical thrift store | Online thrift store |
|---|---|---|
| Initial stock | 1 000 - 3 000 € | 500 - 1 500 € |
| Premises / stand | 500 - €2,000/month | 0 € |
| Photo material / staging | 100 - 300 € | 50 - 150 € |
| Web platform | 0 - 300 € | 30 - €100/month |
| Communication | 200 - 500 € | 100 - 300 € |
| Packaging / logistics | 100 - 300 € | 100 - 300 € |
| Estimated total | 2 000 - 6 000 € | 800 - 2 400 € |
📦 Stock: priority No. 1
Your profitability depends directly on the quality and selection of your stock.
Advice :
Start with 100 to 200 pieces if possible
Aim for homogeneous, high-demand batches: Nike sweatshirts, The North Face jackets, Ralph Lauren shirts, etc.
Prefer tested, sorted bales, with an average margin of x3 to x5 per piece
💡 A t United Vintage, we offer bundles by brand, type or season, with pieces resellable from €25 to €70.
🏠 Sales premises or space
If you're opening a store :
Rent: €500 to €1,500/month depending on city
Furniture: rack, table, mirror, lighting → allow 500 to 1000 €.
Deposit: often 2 to 3 months in advance
Alternatives :
Pop-up store 1 day/week
Shared booths (trade shows, markets)
🌐 Online sales: costs under control
Vinted: low costs but strong competition
Instagram: free but time-consuming
Shopify or WooCommerce: €27/month minimum, pro design, analytics, shopping carts
Also include :
Domain name: €10/year
Theme + personalization: €100-300
📸 Presentation: the trigger factor
Photos are a showcase for your products:
Modern smartphone + natural light are enough
Invest in: white background, mannequin, tripod (100 to 150 € max)
Pro tips: batch shooting, simple retouching (Snapseed, Canva)
🧃 Packaging, logistics, branding
Custom labels: €50 for 500 pieces
Thank-you / loyalty cards: €30 to €50
Recycled/eco-responsible packaging: €0.40 to €1/shipment
Careful packaging = a memorable customer experience = repeat sales.
📣 Communication and launch
Plan a mini-budget for :
Create a simple logo and charter (Canva pro, freelance Fiverr)
Launch Meta Ads from €5/day
Organize a launch (private sale, competition, local event)
📈 Targeting profitability: how quickly?
With good selection and fast stock rotation:
A well-designed thrift shop can be profitable in 3 to 6 months
Monthly sales can quickly exceed €3,000 to €10,000, depending on channel and zone
🧠 Summary
Launching a profitable thrift store requires a structured but affordable initial budget:
✅ €2,000 is all it takes to start a serious online thrift store
✅ Count on €4,000 to €6,000 for a physical thrift store
✅ The key to success remains stock selection + showcasing
💼 Want to get started?
At United Vintage, we support future vintage entrepreneurs with :
Bales ready for resale, sorted by brand
Advice tailored to your project