How to Start a Pharmacy
by Startacus Admin
As you know Startacus is all about helping innovative and enterprising folks (like yourself) to take a step, or indeed a leap, into doing something with their great idea- big or small!
Over the past while, we have been piecing together some of the important info you will need in order to start all manner of businesses. So far we’ve tackled everything from sweet shops to cleaning businesses and today's offering is one that is so obvious we cannot believe it has taken us this long… the humble UK pharmacy.
What is a pharmacy?
Ok… so we are pretty sure that you know what a pharmacy is - but before we begin, a little bit of disambiguation (our new word of the day) is probably in order. In this piece we are talking about pharmacies (you know the ones that dispense medications) rather than health and beauty shops which, despite being wonderful, do not.
Some reasons to start a UK based pharmacy
Like any business, running your own pharmacy will bring with it huge challenges, but it also has the potential to bring you great rewards in terms of money, life style, freedom and so forth.
Arguably the greatest benefit of running a business like a pharmacy is that you get to do something that you like and earn more doing it. Chances are if you are reading this, is that you are someone who has an interest in the health/beauty pharmaceutical industry and perhaps also an interest in retail and customer service. If this is the case, opening your own pharmacy can be a great way to bring together these interests. Couple all this with other perks like choosing your own work times, scheduling your own holidays, getting the opportunity to be creative, the sense of pride and accomplishment as well as a lifetime supply of shampoo then you could really be on to a winner.
Some things you need to do
All joking aside, running a pharmacy is a serious business… there are loads of regulations, rules, laws and legislation to be followed… after all we are talking about the dispensing of tightly regulated prescription-only medication. Here are some of the things that you really should take into consideration;
Research research research and then research some more - The very fact that you are reading this means that you are off to a good start on this count. The internet is a great place to find some of the essential information on rules and regulations- in particular you might want to have a look at the General Pharmaceutical Council . But of course the internet is not the only place that you should be going for advice. You should definitely get in contact with current/previous pharmacy owners to gain their perspective and perhaps some tips to avoid pitfalls.
- Do you want to be part of a franchise or a fully independent business? The merits of being part of a franchise chain are perhaps never better illustrated than when it comes to running a pharmacy. With such tight regulations and a multitude of laws and red tape to battle through, having a structured support network in place can make all the difference. However for the more daring and adventurous among you, an independent venture might be the better option as it offers a higher level of freedom and flexibility. The most important thing is to ensure that you have all of the information at hand before making this important decision - You might find our recent piece on the pros and cons of buying into a franchise useful.
Continued on page 2...
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
Rent the Backyard will build a studio apartment in your backyard, splitting the rental profits with you 50/50. Intrigued?
Revive was created to bring new life to coffee waste, collecting and recycling used coffee grounds to create a palm oil alternative!
Chilled beers, wines and spirits delivered in one hour, thanks to Edinburgh-based startup Drinkly.
Bubblebum has had its flagship product named as one of the Most Innovative and Most Attractive at the Child Baby & Maternity Expo in China.
Influencer marketing remains largely unchartered territory for many businesses, so here are some tips for getting it right on the first go.
Step forward Raise Accelerator, Northern Ireland's first privately-run startup accelerator. We chatted to three founders from their first cohort.
Rich Maaghul, CEO of ODEM.io explores the future of education and how disruption will transform the way that we learn...
The app that helps you achieve your goal body with easy to follow workouts for the gym or home.
The London based startup that has safer home care provision as its mission
The ethical rewards app Koin Rewards, reimagining loyalty through responsible shopping and tokenisation.
Published on: 29th January 2014
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- IAG’s Hangar 51 takes flight with latest innovation programme 31st Jul 2019 The latest Hangar 51 innovation programme is on the hunt for tech startups with a broad range of aviation industry solutions.
- 10 FMCG startups selected for first Seedrs accelerator 24th Jul 2019 10 FMCG startups selected for the 1st Seedrs FMCG accelerator, which aims to help FMCG startups raise capital on the platform
- Startup Leadership Program invites applications for its 9th London cohort 12th Jul 2019 The Startup Leadership Program continues to grow, inviting applications for its 9th London cohort to join the six-month program.
- Latest Zinc Company Builder Programme to transform the quality of later life 9th Jul 2019 Do you want to build a new purpose-driven startup with support from a world-class network of experts?
