Online mattress store with local delivery

Households buying online, renters, first-home buyers and people who want a comfort trial without visiting a shop.

Margin on each mattress, base and accessory sold, plus delivery, set-up and old mattress removal fees where you offer them.

• Online selling and basic website management
• Clear product descriptions and customer service
• Organising suppliers and deliveries
• Basic bookkeeping

• Australian Consumer Law covers returns, warranties and advertising claims. Check how it applies to comfort trials
• Returns of bulky items can be costly. Work out who pays for pick-up before you offer trials
• Check mattress labelling and safety requirements with your suppliers
• Insurance for public liability, stock and goods in transit. Get quotes first
• Register an ABN and check when you need to register for GST
• Competition from large online brands. Think about what makes you different, such as local service or fast delivery
• If you store stock at home, check council rules for home-based businesses

Estimates put startup costs typically around $3,000 to $20,000, depending on your website, your stock approach and whether you use supplier drop-shipping or a small storage space. Getting insurance quotes early is worthwhile.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on your range, marketing and delivery arrangements. Estimated time is from about 10 hours a week, so it could start part-time before growing.

Check how Australian Consumer Law applies to returns, warranties, advertising claims and comfort trials, and who pays for bulky pick-ups. Also check mattress labelling and safety requirements with suppliers, ABN and GST registration, and insurance.