Online trades business ideas you can run from anywhere
35 ideas
These 35 ideas sell to the trades without you picking up a toolbag. Most are online shops or ordering services that supply tradespeople, builders and keen DIYers with products they struggle to find locally.
Online specialist finishes shop for trades
Sell a focused range of wood finishes, specialist paints and sundries online to joiners and decorators.
- £1k-8k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online trade lighting supplier
Supply lighting to electricians and small builders through a trade website, holding little stock and using supplier delivery.
- £1.5k-7.5k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online fencing supplies with delivery
Sell fence panels, posts and fixings online and have suppliers deliver direct to your customers.
- £2k-10k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online fire alarm trade supplier
Sell fire alarm panels, detectors and sounders online to installers and facilities managers, with stock sent direct from suppliers.
- £1.5k-7.5k
- Part-time
- Online
Heating oil ordering service for your area
Gather local orders, get a better price from a supplier, and take a small fee per delivery without owning a tanker.
- £300-3k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online specialist pipe and fittings shop
Sell a focused range of pipes and fittings online to trades and DIYers, shipped from a small store or supplier.
- £2k-10k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online cut-to-length cable shop
Sell cable by the metre online to electricians and DIYers, cut to length and posted from a small stock room or garage.
- £3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online fastener and fixings shop
Sell screws, bolts and anchors online to tradespeople and DIYers, packed and posted from a garage or small unit.
- £1.5k-7.5k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online trade light bulb supplier
Stock popular LED bulbs and lamps at home and sell to electricians, landlords and small firms online.
- £1k-5k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online door and ironmongery shop
Sell internal doors, frames and hardware online, with suppliers sending orders straight to your customers.
- £500-3k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online pump supplier for trade and farms
Sell water, transfer and garden pumps online and by phone, with stock sent straight from suppliers to your customers.
- £1k-5k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online fire safety equipment shop
Sell extinguishers, fire blankets and signs online to small businesses, landlords and tradespeople.
- £500-3k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online glass block shop
Sell decorative and structural glass blocks online to homeowners and installers, shipped direct from your suppliers.
- £500-3k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online hose and fittings shop
Sell hoses, clips and fittings by the metre to trades, farms and workshops through your own website or marketplaces.
- £1k-5k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online air tools shop for garages and trades
Sell air tools, fittings and hoses online to garages, workshops and tradespeople across the UK.
- £1k-6k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online locks and fittings supplier
Sell locks, cylinders and door hardware online to locksmiths, builders and landlords, shipped from a spare room or small store.
- £1.5k-8k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online landscaping stone seller
Sell paving, slabs and decorative stone online, with orders sent direct from your supplier to the customer.
- £500-3k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online hot water systems trade supplier
Sell cylinders, heaters and spares online to local plumbers and heating engineers, with suppliers shipping direct.
- £600-3k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online garage door trade supplier
Sell garage doors and spare parts to local installers and builders online, with manufacturers sending the goods direct.
- £1.5k-7.5k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online trade tool supplier for one niche
Buy tools in bulk for one trade, such as plasterers or electricians, and sell online to trade buyers and small shops.
- £3k-15k
- Part-time
- Online
Online water pump shop with advice
Sell pumps for gardens, homes and small farms online, backed by clear advice on choosing the right one.
- £1.5k-7.5k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online trade insulation supplier
Sell electrical and thermal insulation products online to local electricians and contractors, shipped direct from suppliers.
- £1k-6k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online solar hot water parts shop
Sell solar water heating panels, cylinders and spare parts online to installers and householders, often shipped direct from a wholesaler.
- £500-3k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online plywood and sheet board shop
Sell plywood, MDF and sheet boards online to joiners, builders and DIYers, delivered from a wholesaler or small store.
- £1k-5k
- Side hustle
- Online
About these ideas
Examples include an online cut-to-length cable shop, an online fire safety equipment shop and an online boiler and heating parts supplier. They suit people who know a trade well, have worked in a merchant or wholesale setting, or enjoy organising stock and customer orders. Before anything else, work out which niche you understand best, because specialist knowledge helps you answer buyers' questions and stand out from the big merchants. Then look at supplier terms, minimum orders, storage and delivery costs for bulky or heavy items, and whether the products carry safety or certification requirements.
More ideas
- Online plasterboard supplier
- Online made-to-measure mirrors and glass
- Online niche electrical supplies shop
- Online air con parts supplier for installers
- Online fibreglass and resin supplies shop
- Online boiler and heating parts supplier
- Online air filter shop
- Online ladder and access equipment shop
- Online retaining wall block supplier
- Online trade scale reseller
- Online trade equipment supplier
Questions
Do I need to be a qualified tradesperson to start an online trades business?
Not always, since many of these ideas involve selling supplies rather than doing the work. Product knowledge still matters, though. Check whether the items you want to sell have safety, certification or advice requirements, and whether your customers will expect technical guidance.
How do I handle stock and delivery for heavy or bulky trade products?
Compare options such as dropshipping from suppliers, using a storage unit or working with a fulfilment service. Check courier rates for heavy items, delivery times customers expect, how returns work, and whether your supplier will ship directly to buyers.
What should I check before selling regulated products like fire safety or electrical items?
Look at which standards, labelling or product safety rules may apply in the UK, and ask suppliers for documentation. Check what your insurance covers, how you describe products accurately, and whether a trade body or local Trading Standards office can advise you.