Who it’s for · Shops and retail stores

An AI business advisor for shop owners

Test demand, choose your stock and premises, set up your till and margins, and bring customers back, with a plan built for retail.

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Then from $19 a month
Cancel before it ends and pay nothing
Sign up with Google or email

Questions founders like you ask Wren

Wren answers with your business, where you’re based and your numbers in mind, and ends each answer with a next step you can add to your plan.

“How do I test demand before signing a lease?”
“What margin should I aim for?”
“How do I get customers to come back?”

Your first 12 weeks

A typical starting plan. Yours is built from your answers in setup, so the steps, order and providers change with your stage, location, time and budget.

Week 1
Prove people will pay Strategy
Define your customer and the 20 products you would open with.
Week 1
Write a one-page plan Strategy
Budget fit-out, opening stock, deposit and 6 months of operating costs.
Week 1
Check your name and protect your brand Legal & setup
Search the trademark register and company register for conflicts before you print anything.
Week 1
Choose a structure and register the business Legal & setup
Choose between sole proprietorship (simplest) and a limited company (protects personal assets and is what investors expect).
Week 1
Find and secure your premises Space
Compare high street, shopping centre and pop-up options.
Week 2
Register for taxes Legal & setup
Register with your tax authority for a business tax ID.
Week 2
Open a business bank account Money
Pick a bank with cash deposit options near the shop.
Week 2
Licences, permits and checks Legal & setup
Check zoning or use class, business licence, signage permits and fire safety for your unit.
Week 2
Create your brand basics Brand & web
Your shopfront, signage, bags and labels are your brand. Brief a designer on these.
Week 3
Set up bookkeeping Money
Connect your POS and bank feed to accounting software.
Week 3
Get contracts and policies in place Legal & setup
Have the lease reviewed: rent reviews, break clause, service charges and personal guarantees.
Week 3
Get the right insurance Legal & setup
General/public liability, contents and stock, and employer’s liability or workers’ comp once you hire.
Week 3
Launch your website Brand & web
Hours, location, featured products, and click-and-collect if you can offer it.
Week 3
Hire your first shop staff Hiring & team
Hire for product enthusiasm and reliability, and run a paid trial shift.
Week 4
Set up how you get paid Money
Pick a POS with inventory, barcode scanning and an online store that syncs.
Week 4
Equipment, fit-out and suppliers Operations
Source opening stock through wholesale marketplaces and trade shows.
Week 4
Claim startup credits and perks Money
Before paying for email, accounting, website, booking or marketing tools, check a deals marketplace for a discount or free months.
Week 4
Payroll, contracts and employer compliance Hiring & team
Register as an employer with your tax authority before the first payday.
Week 5
Pick 3 numbers to track every week Strategy
Track sales per day, conversion (buyers ÷ visitors) and gross margin.
Week 5
Get found locally Getting customers
Claim and complete your Google Business Profile: categories, hours, photos, menu or services and a booking link.
Week 5
Pick two social channels and a posting rhythm Socials
Use Instagram and TikTok for new arrivals, styling and behind the scenes.
Week 6
Plan your launch Getting customers
Host a launch event with a local partner (coffee, music, a creator).
Week 6
Find a mentor and a peer group Programs
Book a free session with a business mentor or advice centre near you.
Week 7
Land your first 10 customers Getting customers
Invite neighbours and local businesses to a preview evening.
Week 8
Start an email list Getting customers
Collect emails at checkout with a small first-purchase thank-you.
Week 10
Work out what it costs to win a customer Getting customers
Add up last month’s marketing and sales spend (ads, tools, freelancers, events, and a fair value for your own time) and divide by new customers won.
Week 10
Launch a loyalty programme Getting customers
Start simple: buy 9, get the 10th free.
Week 10
Review your pricing Strategy
Look at what your first customers paid and who hesitated.
Week 11
Collect reviews and testimonials Getting customers
Ask happy customers within 48 hours of a great moment, with a direct link.

Numbers to watch

Track sales per day, conversion (buyers ÷ visitors) and gross margin.
Add up last month’s marketing and sales spend (ads, tools, freelancers, events, and a fair value for your own time) and divide by new customers won.
Track the share of customers who buy again within 3 months, using your POS customer records or loyalty scheme.
Customer value over time: average monthly spend × gross margin × average number of months a customer stays.

Log your main number (weekly sales) in each weekly check-in, and Wren tells you what it means and what to do next.

Providers Wren may suggest

For each step, Wren picks the three best fits for your business and location from a directory of 300+ providers. Some that often come up, depending on where you’re based:

SCOREAccelerators, incubators & mentoring
MicroMentorAccelerators, incubators & mentoring
America’s SBDCAccelerators, incubators & mentoring
NamecheapWebsites & domains
ZenBusinessCompany formation
LegalZoomCompany formation
Northwest Registered AgentCompany formation
LoopNetOffice, coworking & premises
CrexiOffice, coworking & premises
Regus (IWG)Office, coworking & premises
MercuryBusiness banking
RelayBusiness banking

Listings aren’t endorsements. Providers can’t pay to be recommended.

Questions

What margin should a shop aim for?

Many shops aim for 50% or more gross margin on most lines. Wren helps you check supplier minimums, price your stock and track your margin every month.

What should I check before signing a shop lease?

Have it reviewed by a professional, and look at the break clause, rent reviews, service charges and any personal guarantee. Wren gives you a checklist of what to ask and when to walk away.

How does the free trial work?

Answer the setup questions, choose Starter or Pro and add your card. Nothing is charged for 14 days. We email you 3 days before your trial ends, and you can cancel any time before then in one click so you’re never charged.

Other businesses Wren helps

Every plan is built for the kind of business you run.

Start your plan this week

Start your 14-day free trial

Then from $19 a month
Cancel before it ends and pay nothing
Sign up with Google or email