Startup costs to open an independent bookstore can vary widely. Here is one itemized list of bookstore startup costs for a clicks and bricks bookstore. Prospective independent bookshop owners might consider first opening an online bookstore. Online bookstore startup costs can be minimal: just the cost of a website. Some arrangements do not require inventory, and order fulfillment can be outsourced. A very simple approach might begin with writing a blog about book genres that interest you and adding an Amazon affiliate link for books you review: you earn a small percentage of the sale from your site visitors who click on your links to Amazon.