Online bathroom supplies shop

Homeowners planning a bathroom update, plus small installers and landlords who want to order quickly online.

You buy at trade price and sell at a higher retail price. The difference covers your website costs, advertising, returns and your own pay.

• Comfortable building or managing an online shop
• Good with product details and customer questions
• Organised with orders and supplier contact

• Consumer rights rules on online sales and returns, check the current guidance before you launch
• Damage to heavy or fragile items in transit, check who is responsible under your supplier terms
• Check that taps, valves and other plumbing products meet UK water fittings requirements
• VAT registration once your turnover passes the threshold
• Thin margins on branded products, where you may be competing with large online retailers

Startup costs are typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on your website, branding and any starting stock. Many small sellers use suppliers who deliver direct, so you may hold little or no stock.

Monthly revenue is typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on your niche and how many orders you win. Margins can be thin on branded products, where you may be competing with large online retailers.

Check consumer rights rules on online sales and returns, that taps, valves and plumbing products meet UK water fittings requirements, and when to register for VAT. Also check who is responsible for transit damage under your supplier terms.