Retail business ideas you can start for up to £5,000

273 ideas

This page lists 273 retail ideas with startup costs of up to £5,000, so you can compare realistic ways to start selling without a shop lease. Some are low-overhead trading routes, such as a discount goods market stall or a hawaiian goods market stall.

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Under 1k5k to 20kOver 20kFrom homeOut and aboutOwn premisesOnline
Shelves of power tools and construction equipment in a trade supply store.

Online power tool and trade supplies shop

Sell power tools, accessories and site kit to tradespeople online, without needing a shop.

  • £800-4k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
905 UK companies in this field, 27% registered in the last 2 years
Shelves of colourful fabric bolts in a shop for dressmakers.

Online fabric and haberdashery shop

Sell curated fabrics, trims and sewing supplies to UK makers through your own website or marketplaces.

  • £1k-5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
4,072 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years
Bonsai trees displayed on benches in a nursery greenhouse.

Home bonsai nursery selling online

Grow and train bonsai at home, then sell trees, pots and tools to hobbyists and gift buyers online.

  • £500-3k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
858 UK companies in this field, 21% registered in the last 2 years
Trays of drawer handles, hinges and fittings in a supplier warehouse.

Online furniture fittings and handles shop

Sell handles, hinges, legs and fittings online to DIYers, kitchen fitters and small makers.

  • £500-5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
3,382 UK companies in this field, 34% registered in the last 2 years
Perfume bottles lined up on a shop counter with a customer sampling scents.

Online perfume shop with sample sets

Sell fragrances and discovery sample sets online, with friendly scent advice to help people choose.

  • £1k-5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
10,030 UK companies in this field, 47% registered in the last 2 years
Bidders raising paddles in an auction house room during a sale.

Online auction house for a niche

Sell collectables, vintage or other specialist items for owners through online auctions, and keep a commission on each sale.

  • £1k-5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
20,012 UK companies in this field, 40% registered in the last 2 years
Bundles of human hair extensions arranged on a display table.

Online hair extensions shop

Sell clip-in, weft and tape-in hair extensions to customers across the UK through your own website or marketplace shop.

  • £500-3k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
8,575 UK companies in this field, 46% registered in the last 2 years
Rack of colourful greeting cards and wrapping paper in a card shop.

Greeting card market stall

Sell cards and wrapping from a stall at local markets and fairs, with no shop lease to pay.

  • £500-3k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
2,265 UK companies in this field, 25% registered in the last 2 years

Online greeting card shop

Sell cards and wrapping through your own website or marketplace shop, packed and posted from home.

  • £300-3k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
2,265 UK companies in this field, 25% registered in the last 2 years
Shelves of colourful buttons, threads and zips in a haberdashery shop.

Online haberdashery shop

Sell buttons, ribbons, threads and sewing supplies online to crafters, from a spare room at home.

  • £500-4k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
4,072 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years

Haberdashery market stall

Sell sewing notions and trims from a stall at local markets and craft fairs.

  • £600-3k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
4,072 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years
Parent and child choosing toys from colourful shelves in a toy shop.

Online independent toy shop

Sell a carefully chosen range of toys and games through your own website and marketplaces.

  • £1k-5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
4,843 UK companies in this field, 48% registered in the last 2 years
Shelves of sheet music books and folios in a music shop.

Online sheet music shop

Sell printed sheet music and exam books online to students, teachers and players, from home.

  • £600-3k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
935 UK companies in this field, 22% registered in the last 2 years
Gold and colourful bangles stacked on display cushions in a jewellery shop.

Online bangle and jewellery shop

Sell bangles and matching jewellery online for weddings, festivals and gifts, packed and posted from home.

  • £300-1.5k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
8,496 UK companies in this field, 37% registered in the last 2 years

Bangle stall at markets, weddings and festivals

Take a bangle stall to markets, mela days, wedding fairs and festivals, where shoppers like to try before they buy.

  • £600-3k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
8,496 UK companies in this field, 37% registered in the last 2 years
Courier carrying a wrapped flower bouquet to a front door.

Home-based online flower delivery

Take gift bouquet orders through a simple website and deliver them locally from your home or a rented bench.

  • £500-3k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
199,257 UK companies in this field, 56% registered in the last 2 years
Display of phone cases, chargers and screen protectors in a retail shop.

Online phone accessories shop

Sell cases, chargers and screen protectors through your own website or a marketplace, often without holding much stock.

  • £300-3k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
2,413 UK companies in this field, 39% registered in the last 2 years

Phone accessories market stall or kiosk

Sell cases, chargers and screen protectors from a market stall or small kiosk, with screen protector fitting as an add-on.

  • £1k-5k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
2,413 UK companies in this field, 39% registered in the last 2 years
Assorted loose gemstones arranged on a dealer's velvet tray.

Online loose gemstone seller

Buy loose gemstones in small lots and sell them online to jewellery makers and collectors.

  • £1k-5k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
8,496 UK companies in this field, 37% registered in the last 2 years
Jars of colourful sweets and chocolates displayed in a traditional sweet shop.

Online sweets and gift boxes

Sell retro sweets, chocolates and gift hampers online and at local markets from home.

  • £500-4k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
7,128 UK companies in this field, 39% registered in the last 2 years
Colourful fashion jewellery and accessories displayed in a retail shop.

Online costume jewellery shop

Sell affordable fashion jewellery and accessories through your own website or online marketplaces.

  • £300-2.5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
8,496 UK companies in this field, 37% registered in the last 2 years

Costume jewellery market stall

Sell fashion jewellery from a stall at local markets, fairs and events without paying for a shop.

  • £500-3k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
8,496 UK companies in this field, 37% registered in the last 2 years
Rows of cleaning product bottles and drums stacked in a chemical distribution warehouse.

Online cleaning supplies shop for small firms

Sell cleaning products online to small cleaning firms and households, shipped from a small stock base.

  • £1k-5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
2,599 UK companies in this field, 25% registered in the last 2 years
Resistors, chips and connectors laid out on an electronics workbench.

Online electronic components shop

Sell resistors, connectors and chips to hobbyists and repairers through your own site and online marketplaces.

  • £500-3k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
6,604 UK companies in this field, 37% registered in the last 2 years

About these ideas

Others are online, such as an online fabric and haberdashery shop or an online retro and used games seller. They suit people who want to test a product before committing to premises, or who can only work part-time at first. Before you choose, think about where your stock will come from, how much cash it will tie up, and where you will store it. Work out your likely margin after postage, pitch fees and returns, then check what rules apply to the products you want to sell.

More ideas

Questions

How much stock should I buy when starting a retail business on a small budget?

Start with a small range you can afford to lose some of. Check supplier minimum orders, storage space and how quickly items might sell. Keeping some of your budget back for fees, packaging and marketing is usually safer than spending it all on stock.

Do I need to register as self-employed to sell goods in the UK?

Often you do if you are trading regularly or aiming to make a profit, but it depends on your circumstances. Check HMRC's guidance on sole traders and the trading allowance, and consider speaking to an accountant before you start selling.

What should I check before selling products online or at a market?

Check whether your products have safety, labelling or trading standards requirements, and whether you need a market pitch permit or insurance. For online sales, also look at consumer rights rules on returns, and how you will handle customer data.