Online baseball and softball shop

Adult club players, parents of junior players, coaches and teams buying kit in bulk.

You buy from suppliers at trade prices and sell at a margin. Team orders, starter bundles and repeat purchases such as balls and grips help build steady sales.

• Knowledge of baseball or softball gear
• Basic online shop setup
• Customer service and clear sizing advice

• Demand is niche, so check how many clubs and players are within reach before buying much stock
• Imported stock may bring customs duty, import VAT and longer delivery times, so check the current rules
• Online sales are covered by consumer rules on returns and refunds, so check your obligations
• Check whether helmets and protective gear need particular safety markings to be sold in the UK
• Wrong sizes mean returns, so hold only a small range of popular sizes at first
• Check whether you need to register for VAT as turnover grows

Startup costs are typically estimated at around £1,500 to £7,500, depending on how much stock you buy and how you set up the website. Holding only a small range of popular sizes at first can limit the cash you tie up.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £600 to £3,000, depending on how many players and clubs you can reach. Demand is niche, so check how many clubs and players are within reach before buying much stock.

Check whether helmets and protective gear need particular safety markings to be sold in the UK. Also check customs duty and import VAT on imported stock, consumer rules on returns and refunds, and whether you need to register for VAT.