Online asian homewares store

Online shoppers across Australia, especially people who live far from a specialist shop or want a particular style or product.

You sell at a markup on wholesale cost and charge for postage or build it into prices. Bundles, gift sets and repeat orders help lift sales.

• Product photography and listing writing
• Organising stock and orders
• Online marketing basics
• Customer service

• Australian Consumer Law obligations on refunds, product descriptions and faulty goods
• Product safety standards for items like electrical goods and children's products, check with the ACCC
• Customs, GST and biosecurity rules if you import stock yourself
• Breakbreakage and postage costs on heavy or fragile items
• Whether your council needs approval to run a home-based business with stock stored at home
• Public liability and product liability insurance

Startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your website or marketplace setup, opening stock and packaging. Treat this as an estimate and start with a small range to keep your costs down.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your range, marketing and customer base. Expect to spend at least about 10 hours a week. Breakage and postage costs on heavy or fragile items can affect your margins.

Check Australian Consumer Law obligations on refunds, product descriptions and faulty goods, plus ACCC product safety standards. If you import, check customs, GST and biosecurity rules. Also check whether your council needs approval for storing stock at home.