Well here is a couple of things. The shop thing is in the back of my mind, as well. Though the risk to capital is what I'm looking at, and it's just too risky for me at least.
I did find a nice article on the subject. You might want to print it off and go over it.
http://www.sbaer.uca.edu/profiles/in...rofiles/06.pdf
There is 1 shop in our town, none of the riders I know like the place, it's inconvenient, the management is reportedly rude at times and doesn't do much to support the community.
This is a town of 100,000+ folks, I think the town is ripe for a really nice rider oriented shop.
Lastly on starting a shop. I grew up in a very small town called Navarre Ohio. It's still only about 3000 residents. Anyhow my little shop that I used to go to as a kid to get my huffy from kmart tuned up(we were poor) is no longer there, but the same guy now has 3 very large and nice shops in the next larger towns. So he must have done something right 20+ years ago.
Here is the shop's.
http://www.erniesbikeshop.com/
just remember the shop started very small in the back side of a building that was no larger than a small 1 car garage. I really wasn't "into" biking at the time, I used my bike to deliver papers and explore my town. So I don't remember what brands, though raleight and motobecane come to mind this would have been in the mid-80's.
Good luck on your search. If you really want to start a shop, we need a good one badly, send me a email and I'll give you the best location, heck I'll even help work at it for you. Hahaha.