Online niche footwear store

Online shoppers across Australia looking for a specific type of footwear that is hard to find locally, such as large sizes, wide fittings or work boots.

You sell at a markup over wholesale cost through your website or marketplaces. Profit depends on controlling returns, postage costs and stock levels.

• Online selling and basic website skills
• Product photography and descriptions
• Stock and order management
• Handling customer questions and returns

• Returns for wrong sizes can eat into profit, so plan for them in your pricing
• Australian Consumer Law rules on refunds and product guarantees, so check the ACCC guidance
• Check with your council if running stock and packing from home needs approval
• Product liability insurance, and check what your home insurance does not cover
• Check when GST registration applies to your turnover

Startup costs are estimates, typically around $3,000 to $20,000, depending on your stock, website and storage. Monthly revenue is typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your niche and marketing. Plan for wrong-size returns in your pricing.

Check Australian Consumer Law rules on refunds and product guarantees using ACCC guidance. Check with your council whether storing and packing stock at home needs approval, look at product liability insurance and what home insurance excludes, and check when GST registration applies.

You need online selling and basic website skills, product photography and descriptions, stock and order management, and the ability to handle customer questions and returns. Expect typically at least around 10 hours a week.