Online envelope and stationery shop

Small businesses, community groups, schools, wedding and event planners, and small printers who need smaller quantities than a big wholesaler will sell.

You buy in bulk or at trade price and sell at a margin per box or carton. Delivery charges and repeat orders from regular customers add to this.

• Building or managing a simple online shop
• Pricing and keeping track of stock
• Clear customer communication

• Thin margins on low-priced items once postage is included, so test shipping costs before you set prices
• Check whether you need GST registration as your turnover grows
• If running from home, check council rules on home-based businesses and on storing stock
• Australian Consumer Law on refunds and product descriptions
• Dependence on one supplier, as stock or price changes can hit you quickly

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $500 to $2,500, depending on how you build your web shop and how much stock you hold versus having the wholesaler send orders directly. Test postage costs before setting prices.

Things to check: whether you need GST registration as your turnover grows, council rules on home-based businesses and storing stock if you work from home, and Australian Consumer Law on refunds and product descriptions.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your range, pricing and customers. The estimate assumes at least about 8 hours a week. Margins can be thin on low-priced items once postage is included.