Online niche stationery store

Online shoppers across Australia looking for good-quality or hard-to-find stationery and gifts.

You sell products at a mark-up over wholesale cost. Bundles, gift sets and repeat customers help lift the average order value.

• Product photos and listings
• Social media or email marketing
• Packing and posting orders
• Basic bookkeeping

• Postage costs eating into margins, check Australia Post and courier rates
• Australian Consumer Law rules on refunds, returns and product claims
• Copyright and trademark issues if you sell products with designs or characters
• Home storage of stock, check whether your council needs approval for a home-based business
• ABN, and GST registration once you reach the turnover threshold

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on your opening stock, website setup, photography and packaging. Treat this as an estimate and start with a focused range.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $6,000, depending on your niche, marketing and range. Postage costs can eat into margins, so check Australia Post and courier rates.

Check Australian Consumer Law rules on refunds, returns and product claims, and copyright and trademark issues for products with designs or characters. Also check council approval for home storage of stock, and ABN and GST registration.