| Departmental Stores | Chain Stores |
| (1) Meaning | It is a large scale retail store having different departments and sections for different type of goods under a same roof. | It is a retail shop owned and controlled by a single organization located in different parts of the city. |
| (2) Variety of Goods | It deals with large variety of goods. | It deals with goods of a particular manufacturer only. |
| (3) Location | It is located at central place of city. | It is located in the residential area of the city. |
| (4) Capital | it requires large amount of capital. | It requires less amount of capital than Departmental store. |
| (5) Choice of Goods | It deals in the variety of goods and offers wide choice to customers. | It deals in particular product of goods and offer the wide choice to customers. |
| (6) Home Delivery | It provides home delivery to customers. | It do not provide home delivery to customers. |
| (7) Operation | Operations of departmental store are rigid in nature. | Operation of Chain Stores are flexible in nature. |
| (8) Motto | Motto of departmental store is to attract customers. | Motto of Chain Store is to approach the customers |
| (9) Price | It generally charges high price. | It charges comparatively less price. |
| (10) Cost of operating | Cost of operating departmental store is high. | Cost of operating chain store is low. |
