Startup cost
$500–$5k
TRUiC Business Ideas
How to Start a Personal Shopper Service
Decision Snapshot
Personal Shopper
Idea Score
71
Profit margin
21%
Break-even
4 mo–12 mo
Time to launch
12 wk–36 wk
Demand trend
Rising
5-yr failure rate
—
Capital intensity
Low
Time commitment
Full time
Part 1 - How to start a Personal Shopper Service business - Background
A personal shopper business provides assistance for clients who need (or simply want) help buying various items. One common purpose for personal shoppers is to pick up groceries and prescriptions for the elderly who cannot do it themselves. However, some personal shoppers are hired by clients who are not necessarily elderly but simply too busy to buy these things themselves. Some personal shoppers provide more specialized assistance for clients, such as helping them discover a style or fashion that best showcases their features.
You may also be interested in additional low cost business ideas.
Our guide is in 3 parts:
- Part 1 - How to start a Personal Shopper business - Background
- Part 2 - Our planner tool to see if this idea is the right fit for you
- Part 3 - Action plan to get started
What are the costs involved in opening a personal shopper service?
The costs involved with opening this business are very minimal. This job can be started from home, and most client interaction will be via phone, email, or at their own homes. It is very easy to start this job for less than $2,000. This amount assumes you pay $500 for a professionally-designed web page and invest the rest in traditional advertising, such as newspapers, radio ads, and television ads. Depending on your specialty, certain demographics (such as older people) may pay more attention to these “old media” ads than they do to online advertisement, so it is good to offer a balance.
What are the ongoing expenses for a personal shopper service?
There are almost no ongoing expenses for this job except the variable cost of fuel, the cost to host your website (typically less than $100 a year), and however much money you want to spend on traditional advertising each month (typically $250 or less, at least until you have more clients under your belt). Beyond this and any upkeep on your vehicle, you functionally have no other expenses.
Who is the target market?
In many cases, elderly people will be your preferred clients. In most areas, they are the group who most requires personal shopping services. This group is also likelier to enjoy personal interaction and will be friendly when you meet face to face.
How does a personal shopper service make money?
Most personal shoppers charge an hourly rate for their assistance to customers. In rarer cases, you may affiliate yourself with a business that sells certain products and receive a commission for any of those specific items that you help sell.
How much can you charge customers?
Your hourly rate has a high degree of flexibility, and some shoppers charge between $20 to $100 or more per hour. Your rate will likely depend on the complexity of your services (picking up groceries based on a list is much simpler than being someone’s personal fashion shopper and consultant for hours at a time, for instance) and how much competition you have in the area. You may also experiment with different pay models such as charging customers a fixed amount plus a percentage of the overall receipt (typically between ten and fifteen percent).
How much profit can a personal shopper service make?
The exact amount of profit you make depends on factors such as the number of clients and how much you charge them. Some studies estimate average shopper salary to range from $20,000 to $70,000 a year, though really successful shoppers can make this into a six-figure job. Depending on your own schedule and the needs of your clients, it is possible to start this line of work as a side job (doing things like grocery shopping in the early evening) until you have enough clients to make this your sole income stream.
How can you make your business more profitable?
Find a niche service to provide early on and stick with it until you are a master. Consider offering promotional deals, such as a discounted rate for the first week: this allows clients to see that your services are worth the full price. Finally, use all means of communication available—if clients know they can text, call, or email you at a moment’s notice, they will see you as truly reliable and use your services more often.
Day-to-Day and Growth
What happens during a typical day at a personal shopper service?
The day-to-day activities of this job are very straightforward: you will communicate with current clients and possibly communicate with prospective clients. You will discover what your current client needs and then retrieve these things for them and bring them back. When you are not doing these things, you will likely be working on your online advertising presence and possibly researching some of the more esoteric or specialized client requests.
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful personal shopper service?
Broadly speaking, the best skill to develop for this job is skill with interviewing. Pitching yourself to clients in person is often like a job interview, so learning how to project both confidence and warmth will help you land clients. You can also leverage personal skills and experience in certain areas to become a more specialized shopper, such as a chic fashion expert marketing themselves as an image consultant.
What is the growth potential for a personal shopper service?
The growth potential for this business is modest. Personal shopping services typically grow commensurate with the retail industry, which is projected to grow seven percent between 2014 and 2024. Certain areas have greater potential for growth if they have more of a population (such as the elderly) that are likely to use such services.
What are some insider tips for jump starting a personal shopper service?
Be sure to tailor your appearance to your specialty. If you are primarily grabbing groceries, then comfortable attire (such as jeans and a polo) may be appropriate. For those advertising themselves as business consultants, a suit may be more appropriate, whereas image consultants should be wearing modern and stylish couture. Once you know who your primary client base will be, research the things they are interested in or concerned about. This lets you “talk shop” with clients and build relationships. Finally, make sure you are up to date on the various apps and online methods of saving clients money on the things they want you to buy. The more you demonstrate value by saving money, the longer they will keep you hired!
How and when to build a team
The nature of this business (including developing intimate relationships with customers) typically means it is a one-person operation. However, if you develop a network of clients across a city or area that you cannot reasonably service yourself (especially when factoring in drive time, shopping time, and so on), you may need to take on a partner or a small team in order to meet everyone’s needs.
Part 2 - Is a Personal Shopper Service business the right fit for you?
Business Evaluation & Strategy Tool
We'll walk you through the four pillars every business needs: Points of Leverage, Marketing Strategy, Financial Model, and Personal Compatibility. At the end you'll see a personalized report and your action plan below will be tailored to your answers.
Step 1 of 4 — Points of Leverage
Every viable business has natural advantages. Below are common leverage points across four categories. Pick the ones that apply to your Personal Shopper business. We've pre-suggested a few based on your idea — review and adjust.
Step 2 of 4 — Marketing Strategy
Without a way to connect with customers, even great businesses fail. Pick the channels you plan to use to reach your customers.
Step 3 of 4 — Financial Model
Enter your monthly baseline costs — the minimum overhead to keep the business running. Then we'll calculate how many sales per month you need to break even.
Step 4 of 4 — Personal Compatibility
A business that doesn't fit your life will fail no matter how good the numbers look. Tell us how this business fits you.
Your Personal Shopper Evaluation Report
Complete the four pillars and your personalized summary will appear here.
Points of Leverage
Marketing Strategy
Financial Model
Personal Compatibility
Part 3 - Action plan to launch your Personal Shopper Service business in 90 days
Nine concrete steps to take you from idea to open business, grouped into 30-day phases. Complete the planner above and we'll highlight what's most important for your situation.
First 30 days — Foundation
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Form your legal entity
An LLC keeps your personal assets separate from business debts and lawsuits — the most common reason small business owners choose this structure. Sole proprietorships and partnerships do not provide this protection.
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Get an EIN and register for taxes
Apply for your free Employer Identification Number through the IRS, then register for any state or local taxes that apply to your business (sales tax, franchise tax).
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Open a business bank account and credit card
A dedicated business account is required to maintain personal asset protection. Mixing personal and business finances ('piercing the corporate veil') can void your LLC's liability shield.
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Set up business accounting
Recording expenses and income from day one makes tax filing easier and lets you see when the business is actually profitable. Use software (QuickBooks, Wave) or a part-time bookkeeper.
Days 30–60 — Compliance & Risk
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Get permits and licenses
State and local requirements vary widely. Brick-and-mortar businesses typically need a Certificate of Occupancy; service businesses may need specific professional licensing; food businesses need health permits.
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Get business insurance
General Liability Insurance is the most common starting point. If you'll have employees, most states require Workers' Compensation. Specific industries need additional coverage (product liability, professional liability, etc.).
Days 60–90 — Launch
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Define your brand
Your brand is how customers perceive and remember you. A clear name, logo, and visual identity make every later marketing decision easier and protect you legally as you grow.
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Create your business website
Every legitimate business needs a website. Social media pages are not a substitute — you don't own the platform. Modern website builders mean you can launch a clean site in a weekend without a developer.
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Set up your business phone system
A dedicated business number keeps your personal life private, makes the business look legitimate, and lets you route calls professionally. Cloud phone services start under $20/month.