Online home brewing supplies shop

Home brewers of beer, cider and wine, from beginners buying a first kit to keen hobbyists restocking ingredients.

You buy from wholesalers and sell at a markup. Profit comes from repeat orders, bundles such as starter kits, and postage charged on top.

• Knowing the basics of home brewing
• Organised stock and order handling
• Basic website and photo skills
• Clear, helpful customer service

• Register as a sole trader or limited company and check your VAT position as sales grow
• Check your consumer rights duties for distance selling, including returns and clear product information
• Heavy, bulky and glass items cost a lot to post and can break, so check courier prices and packaging early
• Hops and yeast are perishable, so check storage and shelf life before stocking up
• Selling from home may need permission from your landlord or mortgage lender; check with them and your council
• Selling brewing equipment is different from selling alcohol, but check with your council if you plan to sell anything alcoholic

Startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £8,000, depending on how much stock you buy, whether you rent storage space and how you set up your website. Heavy and bulky items can also make postage and packaging costs add up.

Monthly revenue is typically around £500 to £4,000, depending on your product range, how many customers you reach and how often brewers reorder ingredients. These are revenue estimates rather than profit, so allow for stock, postage and packaging costs.

Check how to register as a sole trader or limited company and your VAT position as sales grow. Also check consumer rights for distance selling, courier prices for heavy glass items, storage and shelf life for hops and yeast, and permission to sell from home.