Retail business can do very well for you if 4 or more things work in your favor...

1. Online business can't sell what you sell

2. Your nearest competitor is as far away as possible and most likely has no chance of coming close to you EVER..

3. You're in the target customer group.....Target customer let's say...ROSS sells in poor neighborhood and wholefood sells in rich neighborhood..Both will get killed if they switch location..

4. What you have is what people actually need. Whatever it is...It can be insurance, tax, grocery, ice cream, pet store, dry cleaners etc....

But, to make 150k a year or more from retail biz...you'l most likely need the help of others...

Also, your rent should not be hyper.....and finally...before you buy any business keep in mind this matra from Warren Buffett...

"The single most important decision in evaluating a business is pricing power. If you've got the power to raise prices without losing business to a competitor, you've got a very good business. And if you have to have a prayer session before raising the price by 10 percent, then you've got a terrible business."

http://www.businessinsider.com/warren-buffett-pricing-power-beats-good-management-berkshire-hathaway-2011-2

Make sure that you're in such a great business that you can frequently raise the price of your product...and customers are okay with it...For example, rent in California...or New York..Landords in these cities are in the right business