set up shop

present singular third person sets up shop · participle present setting up shop

1. To physically arrange a shop or workplace.

   He set up shop in his garage every Saturday.

   Synonyms: hang out one's shingle

2. idiomaticTo establish a business.

   They set up shop as venture capitalists on Sand Hill Road.

   2 more examples

   Homer’s entrepreneurial spirit proves altogether overly infectious. Homer gives Barney a pep talk when he encounters him dressed up like a baby handing out fliers (Barney in humiliating costumes=always funny) and it isn’t long until Barney has purchased a truck of his own and set up shop as the Plow King.

   2012 June 3, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “Mr. Plow” (season 4, episode 9; originally aired 11/19/1992)”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), archived from the original on 26 Oct 2012

   […] these companies could enjoy support required to set up shop for the long term.

   2010 September, Derek Rapp, "Good Company", St. Louis magazine, ISSN 1090-5723, volume 16, issue 9, page 80

   Antonyms: close up shop

3. idiomaticTo position oneself in a particular spot for some period of time.

   She set up shop on the stoop while she ate her croissant.