Online appliance spare parts shop

Households who want to repair appliances themselves rather than replace them, plus a few small repairers.

You buy parts from wholesalers and sell at a mark-up, with delivery charged or built into the price. Selling through your own site, eBay or Amazon all work.

• Basic knowledge of how appliances work
• Careful with detail, as model numbers must match
• Customer service by email or chat

• Check the rules on distance selling, returns and refunds for online sales, such as the Consumer Contracts Regulations
• Wrong-fit parts mean returns, so check compatibility carefully
• Electrical and gas parts carry safety risks, so check what advice you can give and whether product liability cover is needed
• Check with HMRC how to register as self-employed (sole trader)
• Check with the Environment Agency or your wholesaler whether the electrical producer (WEEE) rules apply to the parts you sell, as spare parts may be treated differently from complete appliances

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £500 to £4,000, depending on whether you hold stock yourself or have a wholesaler send orders direct to customers.

Things to check: distance selling, returns and refund rules such as the Consumer Contracts Regulations; safety risks with electrical and gas parts and whether you need product liability cover; and whether WEEE rules apply to the parts you sell.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £3,000, depending on your range and how many orders you get. Wrong-fit parts lead to returns, so careful compatibility checks matter. Expect around 8 hours a week at least.