Online pet supplies store

Pet owners who like the convenience of home delivery or want products they cannot easily find in local shops.

Retail margin on each order, plus repeat orders and subscriptions for food and consumables. Shipping and platform fees come out of that margin.

• Online selling and basic website setup
• Product knowledge and writing clear descriptions
• Organising stock and orders
• Customer service

• Check Australian Consumer Law obligations on refunds, product claims and labelling
• Some pet products, such as flea and worm treatments, may have extra rules, so check before you stock them
• Shipping costs and returns can eat into margins, so work these out before setting prices
• Check with your local council whether a home-based business needs approval if you store stock at home
• Product liability and public liability insurance, and when you need to register for GST

Startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your stock, website setup and whether you hold stock or use a supplier who ships for you. These are estimates, so work out shipping costs before setting prices.

Check Australian Consumer Law obligations on refunds, product claims and labelling. Some products, such as flea and worm treatments, may have extra rules. Also check council approval for storing stock at home, insurance, and when to register for GST.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,000 to $8,000, depending on your niche, marketing and repeat customers. Plan on at least about 10 hours a week. Shipping costs and returns can eat into margins. These are estimates.