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" 1. Would you like to run your own business one day? Yes No 2. Are you obsessed with clothes and shopping? Yes No 3. Do you love to put together outfits for you and your friends? Yes No If you answered yes to all of these questions, a career as a boutique owner may be the perfect fit for you! Read on for more about what this exciting career entails! WILL YOU LIKE IT? PROS: Being your own boss, tracking fashion trends by meeting with representatives from well-known clothing brands and up-and-coming designers. Plus, you&amp;#039;ll scope out street looks for the next big thing to sell in your shop. Fun! CONS: Long hours\u2014as the owner, you&amp;#039;ll spend most of your time at the shop. You&amp;#039;ll most likely be balancing books and stocking shelves more than you&amp;#039;ll be helping customers find cute outfits. WHAT DO YOU DO? Come up with a name, theme, and design for the store; find, select, and buy all of the merchandise; figure out how much merchandise to keep in the store without overstocking; assist customers; work the cash register; and choose prices and sizes that will keep customers happy\u2014and coming back. HOW DO YOU START? BE FASHION FORWARD: Stay on top of trends and hot brands with daily visits to blogs and cool online stores (try fashionweekdaily.com and girlshop.com). Then use your expertise to start your own trend spotting blog. It&amp;#039;ll help you develop and organize your ideas and get feedback from others. GET TO WORK: Retail experience is key to helping you get a feel for how to sell to all types (and sizes) of customers. So head to your favorite store, ask to see the manager, and apply for a job. GET A DEGREE: While you won&amp;#039;t need a specific degree, schools like the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York or Philadelphia University in Pennsylvania offer top fashion merchandising programs. You&amp;#039;ll learn about the fashion industry and gain insight from boutique owners, like tips on how to display clothes for better sales. A degree in marketing or business will also give you the skills you&amp;#039;ll need to run a shop. START SAVING: When you factor in rent, electricity, and the price of clothes to stock the shop, opening a boutique can cost about $75,000. With a mapped-out business plan and good credit (your credit card payments have always been on time), you can get a jump-start with a government small-business loan. Check sba.gov for info. WHAT DOES IT PAY? Once a shop is established, the owner takes her pay from the profit (what&amp;#039;s left after all the bills are paid) and can make up to $100,000 a year.  &amp;quot;At first, I worked seven days a week, designing, selling, stocking, and cleaning. But I loved every second. Being so passionate about fashion was key to my success.&amp;quot; \u2014Chloe Dao, co-owner of Lot 8 Boutique in Houston, TX, and winner of Project Runway, Season 2 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.seventeen.com/life/school/advice/a7809/dream-job-boutique-owner/>