Start an online hat store

Individual shoppers buying for themselves or as gifts, including race-day and wedding guests.

You buy hats wholesale and sell them at a markup. Occasion hats and accessories like hat boxes and hat pins can lift the average order.

• Choosing stock that suits your customers
• Online shop setup and product photos
• Customer service and handling returns

• Australian Consumer Law applies to refunds and faulty goods, so check the ACCC guidance for online sellers
• Register for GST once turnover reaches the threshold, and check with the ATO
• Sizing returns can eat into margins, so give clear head measurement instructions
• Check whether home storage of stock needs anything from your local council

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on how much stock you hold, your online shop setup and product photography. Sending orders straight from a supplier can reduce what you need up front.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue of typically around $500 to $5,000, depending on your range, marketing and how many orders you win. Sizing returns can eat into margins, so clear head measurement instructions help.

Check Australian Consumer Law for refunds and faulty goods, using ACCC guidance for online sellers. Check with the ATO about registering for GST once your turnover reaches the threshold, and whether storing stock at home needs anything from your local council.