Online incense shop from home

Individual customers buying for relaxation, meditation, yoga and home fragrance, plus gift buyers.

You buy in bulk from overseas or local makers and sell at a retail mark-up. Bundles, gift sets and burners lift the average order value.

• Choosing and describing products well
• Basic website or marketplace set-up
• Packing and posting orders on time
• Simple stock and bookkeeping

• Import rules for plant-based products: check with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry about biosecurity requirements before importing
• Some woods and resins (such as agarwood or sandalwood) may be protected species with extra permits, check before buying
• Check Australian Consumer Law requirements for product descriptions, labelling and refunds
• GST registration once your turnover reaches the threshold, and GST on imports
• Check whether your council requires approval to run a business from home and how to store stock safely
• Public liability and product liability insurance

Startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $6,000, depending on how much stock you buy and how you set up your website or marketplace listings. These are estimates, so start with a budget based on real supplier prices.

Monthly revenue is typically around $500 to $4,000, depending on your product range, niche and how many orders you get. This is revenue before stock, postage and fees, so work out your own margins.

Check biosecurity requirements with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry before importing plant-based products. Also check whether woods or resins like agarwood or sandalwood need permits, Australian Consumer Law, GST registration, and insurance.