Online beauty supply store

Self-employed stylists, nail technicians, small salons and members of the public who want salon-quality products.

You buy at wholesale prices and sell at a mark-up. Repeat orders from professionals and bundles or kits help raise the value of each order.

• Product knowledge of hair, skin and nails
• Basic online selling and social media
• Stock and order management

• Cosmetic products sold in the UK have to meet UK cosmetics regulations, so check that your suppliers can show the right safety and labelling information
• Buy from authorised distributors, as some brands restrict who can sell them and counterfeit stock is a risk
• Consumer distance selling rules (returns and refunds) apply to online sales, so check what you must offer
• Public liability and product liability insurance, plus checking whether you will need to register for VAT as you grow
• Tying up cash in stock that does not sell, so start with a small range

Startup costs are estimates, typically around £1,000 to £6,000, depending on the range you stock and whether you hold stock yourself or use wholesalers who ship for you. Starting with a small range limits cash tied up in stock.

Monthly revenue is an estimate, typically around £500 to £5,000, depending on your niche, how many customers you reach and your product range. It may take time to build a base of salon and shopper customers.

Check that your suppliers can show the safety and labelling information UK cosmetics regulations require. Buy from authorised distributors, check what returns and refunds distance selling rules require, and look at insurance and whether you will need to register for VAT.