Online womenswear boutique

Women shopping for themselves or for gifts, usually found through Instagram, TikTok, Google searches and email lists.

You sell stock at a markup over wholesale cost. Extra income can come from accessories added at checkout, repeat customers and end-of-season sales to clear stock.

• Spotting trends and choosing stock
• Product photography and social media
• Order handling and customer service

• You need an ABN, and check when GST registration applies to your turnover
• Australian Consumer Law covers refunds, faulty goods and honest descriptions, so check your returns policy
• Unsold stock ties up cash, so start small and avoid heavy buying early on
• Check labelling rules for clothing, such as fibre content and care labels, with the ACCC
• If you run it from home, check whether your council needs approval for storing stock

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how much opening stock you buy, your website and your photography. Unsold stock ties up cash, so starting small can help.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $500 to $5,000, depending on your range, how well you promote it and how many orders you receive. This is revenue rather than profit, so allow for stock and postage costs.

Check when GST registration applies to your turnover, and that you have an ABN. Review Australian Consumer Law on refunds, faulty goods and honest descriptions, and check clothing labelling rules, such as fibre content and care labels, with the ACCC.