Running a retail operation may be fraught with risks, but those threats aren't likely to deter an entrepreneur with a vision and the desire to control their own schedule and work life. It follows that three out of five of today's teenagers have expressed a hankering for starting their own business rather than working a "straight job," according to Junior Achievement USA. "Nearly 2 in 5 teens surveyed said their inspiration for entrepreneurship mostly comes from social media influencers and celebrities," CNBC wrote about that research. There were roughly 1,045,422 retailers in the U.S. as of 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Despite the challenges of keeping such businesses alive through the pandemic, inflation and any number of other external forces that can impact a store, the National Retail Federation says that 80% of all shopping still happens in brick-and-mortar locations instead of online. However, both physical stores and online retailers can be susceptible to major business losses. Insureon recently laid out the top threats to retailers with hopes that storeowners will take actionable steps to safeguard against these hazards. The slideshow above highlights the top six threats to retailers, according to Insureon. See also:

• Organized chaos: Insurance coverage & retail crime
• Retail workers' greatest risks: Top injury claims, loss times and payouts
• Insurance for retailers: A guide to risk exposures and coverage options