When you purchase Owning a Bookstore: The Essential Planning Guide, you are guaranteed that you’ll receive up-to-date information about the industry and its lessons for success.
What bookstore model works in today’s changing world?
If you want to develop a sustainable business managed with the skills of the most successful bookstore professionals, it’s best to realize the importance of training, especially if you’ve never before owned a business or managed any retail operation. There’s a lot to learn…
Unlike boilerplate “how-to” guides for opening a business, this is the only publication that is produced by dedicated book industry professionals with ongoing direct contact with new bookstore owners and those who have been in the bookstore business for decades. With the Guide, you’ll gain an overview of the book industry, understand the financial dynamics, learn about everything from leases to buying books, bookstore computerized management systems to grand opening celebrations in this detailed, bookstore-specific guide that is the premiere resource for anyone opening a bookstore or buying an existing bookstore.
With exercises and lists of vendors and contacts, plus a list of our favorite vendors for non-book merchandise (cards, reading accessories, toys and games, gifts and more), you’ll be on your way to learning what’s involved when you own your own bookstore and you’ll make progress with your business plan as well!
Price:
$189 plus shipping & handling
ABA Member Price:
$164 plus shipping and handling
Please note that the first available date for Planning Guides to ship will be Wednesday, November 6.
We apologize for the delay, and thank you for your patience.
LEARN ABOUT THE
BOOK INDUSTRY
UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH YOU’LL NEED TO INVEST
GET A SENSE OF YOUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT
SEE HOW INDIE BOOKSTORES ARE THRIVING
"The workshop was an incredible experience and definitely gave me the knowledge and tools to make my store more than just a dream."
- Sandy Loomis
"Many thanks again for conducting such an informative and enjoyable workshop. It was exactly what I was looking for and clearly a lot of thought and care went into it."
- Melissa Crispin
"I know we wouldn't be this far along without the Paz & Associates help, training, and Guide. This and networking with fellow Paz Graduates have been immensely worth the investment."
- Jay Jackson, Absolutely Fiction Books
"I am so very happy I found you ... without you
the store would just be a dream."
- Melissa DeMotte, The Well-Read Moose
"I simply cannot end this day without sending you a brief note of thanks for the fantastic experience that I had this week at our workshop / boot camp.
I learned so much and had a great time in the process. You provide all of us with such a wealth of information and practical tools."
- Margi Watters
"You have been 100% fabulous and are helping me make this exhilarating, exciting, and sometimes terrifying trip very doable. And I can pretend I have complete confidence in all my dealings because I can get all the answers from Paz & Associates when I don't know something :)"
- Laurie Donelson Gillman, East City Bookshop
"[the training] was a life changer ... I would not be doing this if I hadn't gone to the workshop. It really taught me what I needed to know.
It makes you understand and appreciate just how
many moving parts there are in a business like this."
- Erika VanDam, RoscoeBooks
"The Guide exceeded my expectations! The mentor from SCORE was extremely impressed with the information I am able to bring to our meetings. I am incredibly impressed with your training materials. I can only imagine what kind of valuable information I could glean from you in person."
- Lindsay Persohn, Prospective Bookseller
"Your Guide has been an invaluable resource in my planning and decision making process and quite honestly, I couldn't imagine starting down this part without it. The Guide contains a wealth of information."
- Dan Byers, Prospective Bookseller
"I honestly don't know how I would have pulled this off without your help."
- Sally Bradshaw, Midtown Reader
"Wow, the Owning a Bookstore Guide is fabulous! I'm impressed at its weight and thoroughness. My two partners and I thought we'd rotate it, but no way. I need two more!"
- Sandy Koropp, Prairie Path Books
"Once again I want to thank you guys a million times for the best training. I enjoyed myself and learned so much. I am amazed at how much I have used from just that one week from class..."
- VaLinda Miller, The Booksmith
"Whenever anyone asks me for advice about opening a bookstore, I tell them the best thing I ever did was take your class. I knew I loved books, but here the realization that I was taking on a business truly became a reality. Not only did I learn so much from your workshop, I use all of your invaluable resources to this day." - Rita Maggio, BookTowne
"The workshop was an incredible experience and definitely gave me the knowledge and tools to make my store more than just a dream."
- Sandy Loomis
"Many thanks again for conducting such an informative and enjoyable workshop. It was exactly what I was looking for and clearly a lot of thought and care went into it."
- Melissa Crispin
"I know we wouldn't be this far along without the Paz & Associates help, training, and Guide. This and networking with fellow Paz Graduates have been immensely worth the investment."
- Jay Jackson, Absolutely Fiction Books
"I am so very happy I found you ... without you
the store would just be a dream."
- Melissa DeMotte, The Well-Read Moose
"I simply cannot end this day without sending you a brief note of thanks for the fantastic experience that I had this week at our workshop / boot camp.
I learned so much and had a great time in the process. You provide all of us with such a wealth of information and practical tools."
- Margi Watters
"You have been 100% fabulous and are helping me make this exhilarating, exciting, and sometimes terrifying trip very doable. And I can pretend I have complete confidence in all my dealings because I can get all the answers from Paz & Associates when I don't know something :)"
- Laurie Donelson Gillman, East City Bookshop
"[the training] was a life changer ... I would not be doing this if I hadn't gone to the workshop. It really taught me what I needed to know.
It makes you understand and appreciate just how
many moving parts there are in a business like this."
- Erika VanDam, RoscoeBooks
"The Guide exceeded my expectations! The mentor from SCORE was extremely impressed with the information I am able to bring to our meetings. I am incredibly impressed with your training materials. I can only imagine what kind of valuable information I could glean from you in person."
- Lindsay Persohn, Prospective Bookseller
"Your Guide has been an invaluable resource in my planning and decision making process and quite honestly, I couldn't imagine starting down this part without it. The Guide contains a wealth of information."
- Dan Byers, Prospective Bookseller
"I honestly don't know how I would have pulled this off without your help."
- Sally Bradshaw, Midtown Reader
"Wow, the Owning a Bookstore Guide is fabulous! I'm impressed at its weight and thoroughness. My two partners and I thought we'd rotate it, but no way. I need two more!"
- Sandy Koropp, Prairie Path Books
"Once again I want to thank you guys a million times for the best training. I enjoyed myself and learned so much. I am amazed at how much I have used from just that one week from class..."
- VaLinda Miller, The Booksmith
"Whenever anyone asks me for advice about opening a bookstore, I tell them the best thing I ever did was take your class. I knew I loved books, but here the realization that I was taking on a business truly became a reality. Not only did I learn so much from your workshop, I use all of your invaluable resources to this day." - Rita Maggio, BookTowne