Starting shop? Any experience

[redlancer]

Hi

Looking at opening a shop to make a living in France in about a year 18months. We have a few idea''s and inparticular are looking at franchise's.

anyone with any experience of renting or buying a shop inparticular large towns, cities, just after a feel for costs, hidden costs, deposits, length of contract's, finance, success, failure stories etc

Any good internet sites out there.

Had a quick look on internet

Prices look a lot cheaper than in the UK on a per month basis.

But when i looked at buying a shop it seemed really cheap (about the same as a years rent), althought all case there was little info apart from the odd one with a purchase price plus a loyer which was small. Made me think maybe the buy to let option was a money maker or the price was for the buisness but then there was no mention of the shop type of goods.

thanks as always

Graham