Online air conditioning and cooling shop

Homeowners, landlords, home office users and small businesses such as shops, server rooms and salons.

You earn the margin between trade and retail price on each unit and accessory. Referral fees from installers and delivery charges can add a little extra.

• Sales and customer service
• Explaining technical products simply
• Organising orders and deliveries

• Online sales rules, including cancellation rights and returns, under consumer law
• Whether you need to register for electrical waste (WEEE) obligations as a seller, check with the Environment Agency or a compliance scheme
• Fitting split systems normally involves refrigerant and electrical work, so check that your installers hold the right F-gas and electrical qualifications
• Demand is seasonal and tends to rise in hot spells, so plan your cash flow and stock
• Product liability and public liability insurance, and checking supplier warranties

Startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £7,500, depending on how much stock you hold and whether suppliers send orders direct. These are estimates, so build your own figures from supplier prices, website costs and insurance quotes.

Monthly revenue is typically around £600 to £3,000, depending on your range, stock and marketing. These are estimates, not guarantees. Demand tends to rise in hot spells, so plan your cash flow and stock around seasonal swings.

Check online sales rules on cancellation rights and returns under consumer law. Also check whether you need to register for WEEE obligations with the Environment Agency or a compliance scheme, and that your installers hold the right F-gas and electrical qualifications.