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Retail store opening checklist
Record daily store readiness, unresolved issues and the duty manager’s opening decision before customers arrive. View the questions, try the live form or download a blank PDF or Word copy.
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What does this template record?
Record daily store readiness, unresolved issues and the duty manager’s opening decision before customers arrive.
Last updated . Facts checked by the SiteSurvey team on 9 October 2026 against Connecteam store opening checklist and Smartsheet daily store opening checklist.
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Want to see one filled in? See a completed retail store opening report (PDF), made by SiteSurvey from a fictional site visit.
Every question in the retail store opening template
Record daily store readiness, unresolved issues and the duty manager’s opening decision before customers arrive. 4 sections and 33 questions. Follow-up questions and guidance appear only when an answer calls for them, so the person on site never sees the ones that do not apply.
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Add this form to a project in SiteSurvey and it fills in what the project already knows, so nobody on site retypes it and every form on the job uses the same names. Anything filled in can still be changed.
- Project or site: the project name
Store and opening team
- Project or site*Short answerFills in from the project name
- Record reference*Short answer
- Record date*Date
- Prepared by*Short answer
- Store name or number*Short answer
- Planned opening time*Time
- Duty manager*Short answer
Opening readiness
- Access and security*Choose one
Complete arrival, access and security checks under store procedures.
- Ready
- Issue found
- Not applicable
- Access and security issue or reason not applicable*NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Emergency routes*Choose one
Check emergency routes and exits are clear and available.
- Ready
- Issue found
- Not applicable
- Emergency routes issue or reason not applicable*NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Sales floor*Choose one
Walk the floor for obstructions, spills and damaged fixtures.
- Ready
- Issue found
- Not applicable
- Sales floor issue or reason not applicable*NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Registers and payment equipment*Choose one
Complete startup checks under the payment equipment procedure.
- Ready
- Issue found
- Not applicable
- Registers and payment equipment issue or reason not applicable*NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Stock and displays*Choose one
Check displays, stock presentation and current promotional information.
- Ready
- Issue found
- Not applicable
- Stock and displays issue or reason not applicable*NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Staff briefing*Choose one
Confirm cover and brief staff on today’s duties and restrictions.
- Ready
- Issue found
- Not applicable
- Staff briefing issue or reason not applicable*NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Exception photosPhotos
- GuidanceRecord that security and payment checks were completed under store procedures. Do not enter alarm codes, safe combinations, card information or cash values here.
Outstanding issues
- Are issues still outstanding?*Choose one
- Yes
- No
- Outstanding actionsRepeat for each entry. Each one asks:Shown when “Are issues still outstanding?” is “Yes”
- Issue and next action*Notes
- Owner*Short answer
- Target completion time*Short answer
- Effect on opening*Choose one
- Prevents opening
- Restricts an area or activity
- Does not prevent opening
- Temporary control or escalation reference*Short answer
Opening decision
- Recorded opening decision*Choose one
- Ready to open
- Open with recorded restrictions
- Keep closed
- Restrictions or reason for keeping closed*NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Decision made by*Short answer
- Decision time*Short answer
- Team briefing and handover notes*Notes
- GuidanceThe duty manager records the decision under store procedures. A completed checklist does not automatically authorise opening.
- Reviewed byShort answer
- Reviewer acknowledgementSignature
See it filled in
A completed retail store opening report, made by SiteSurvey from a fictional site visit: every answer, the photos, the guidance that applied and the sign-off, ready to send as a PDF.
Retail store opening FAQs
What should a retail opening checklist cover?
Check access and security, emergency routes, the sales floor, payment equipment, stock and displays, and the staff briefing. Record issues and the manager’s decision.
Is this for opening a new shop?
It is for the daily opening of an operating retail store. It is not a new-business launch plan or a premises approval checklist.
How is this different from a store audit?
An opening checklist records today’s readiness and exceptions. A store audit is a broader periodic assessment of store standards.
What happens if a check fails?
Record the issue, immediate action, owner and effect on opening. The responsible manager records whether the store remains closed or opens with stated restrictions under store procedures.
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