Online aquarium supplies and plants store

Home aquarium hobbyists, planted tank enthusiasts and beginners setting up their first tank.

Profit on each product sold, which is the gap between your buying price and your sale price. Postage is usually charged to the customer or built into the price, and regular items like food and filter media bring repeat orders.

• Good knowledge of fish keeping or planted tanks
• Basic website and photo skills
• Organised stock and order handling

• Check whether you need council approval to run a home-based business and store stock at home
• Selling live fish or plants across state borders can be restricted, and some species are banned or regulated, so check with your state's biosecurity or fisheries agency
• Check the rules on importing aquatic products and plants with the Department of Agriculture
• Plants and livestock can die in transit, so plan your postage method and refund policy
• Register for an ABN and check when you need to register for GST
• Consider product and public liability insurance

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on how much stock you buy, how you build your website and whether you need extra storage space. Your own setup and range will shift the figure.

Check whether you need council approval for a home-based business and for storing stock at home. Also check state biosecurity or fisheries rules on selling plants or fish across borders, import rules with the Department of Agriculture, and ABN and GST registration.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $4,000, depending on your product range, marketing and how many orders you ship. Expect to spend at least about 8 hours a week on stock, orders and packing.