Online beauty supply store

Mobile hairdressers, nail technicians and small salons, plus members of the public who want professional products.

You buy at wholesale and sell at a markup. Repeat orders from salons and nail techs bring in steady sales, and bundles or kits lift the order size.

• Product knowledge in hair, skin or nails
• Basic online shop setup
• Customer service and packing orders

• Some distributors only supply licensed professionals or set minimum orders, so check each one's terms
• Cosmetic ingredient rules and labelling, check with the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) and the ACCC
• Some products such as hair dyes and nail chemicals are hazardous, so check storage and safety rules
• Home-based business rules, check with your local council
• Product liability and public liability insurance
• GST registration once turnover reaches the threshold

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how much stock you hold, your online shop set-up and insurance. Dropshipping from suppliers may change your needs, so get your own quotes.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue of typically around $500 to $5,000, depending on your products, your customers and how well you market the shop. Revenue is not profit, and you could start at about 8 hours a week.

Check each distributor's terms, as some supply only licensed professionals. Also check cosmetic ingredient and labelling rules with AICIS and the ACCC, hazardous product storage, council home-business rules, insurance, and GST registration.