Start an online candle shop

Gift buyers, people decorating their homes and shoppers looking for seasonal or personalised candles.

You earn the difference between what you pay for the candles and your selling price, plus extra from gift sets, bundles and seasonal ranges.

• Choosing products that sell
• Good photos and product descriptions
• Organised packing and posting

• Product safety and labelling rules for candles, especially if you make your own, check with Trading Standards
• Fragile and heavy parcels: price postage and packaging carefully
• Seasonal sales peaks, so plan cash and stock for the autumn and Christmas rush
• Product liability insurance, and check your home insurance if you store stock at home

Startup costs are typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on whether you buy candles in or make your own, and how much stock, packaging and website set-up you need. Treat this as an estimate and cost your own plan.

Monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £3,000, depending on your products, pricing, traffic and the time of year. Sales can peak in autumn and Christmas, so plan cash and stock ahead. These are estimates, not guarantees, and revenue is not profit.

Check product safety and labelling rules for candles with Trading Standards, especially if you make your own. Also look at product liability insurance, whether your home insurance covers stock stored at home, and how to price postage for fragile or heavy parcels.