小零售商是最不赚钱的行当之一。

如果想要自己开业，Forbes 选出十个最盈利最不盈利的行业，盈利最高的是会计 (profit margin 25%)，法律 21%，牙医 20%，理疗(17%)，诊所15%，等。最差的包括小零售商(pre-tax profit -0.5%) 。盈利不好的原因是大零售商薄利多销，让小零售商难以生存。Wal Mart's operating profit margin 5%.

http://www.forbes.com/2008/01/17/small-business-sageworks-ent-fin-cx_mf_0118mostprofitable_slide_2.html?thisSpeed=undefined

No. 8: Specialty Retailers

Average Pretax Profit: -0.5%

With Wal-Mart and other big-box retailers dotting the landscape, it's hard even for niche retailers--of sporting goods, musical instruments or hobby supplies--to make money. The big guys can live on slim margins because they have sophisticated inventory-management systems that keep the merchandise moving; they also have pricing power with their suppliers. Small fry have neither, so they have to compete on customer service, and that can get expensive. Selling online shaves costs, but everyone can do it, so those savings get priced away.