Online cane and rattan furniture shop

Homeowners furnishing living rooms, conservatories and gardens, plus small cafes, B&Bs and holiday lets buying in volume.

You buy at trade price and sell at a retail mark-up, charging delivery on bulky items. Bundles, such as a garden set with cushions, raise the value of each order.

• Online selling and product photography
• Supplier negotiation
• Customer service and handling returns
• Organising bulky deliveries

• Consumer rules on distance selling, including the 14-day cancellation right, so check the current guidance
• Furniture fire safety rules for upholstered items and fillings, check what applies to cushions and padded pieces
• Damage in transit and the cost of returning bulky items
• Product liability and public liability insurance, plus checking stock insurance if you store goods
• Register as a sole trader with HMRC, and check whether you need to charge VAT once you reach the threshold

Startup costs are typically around £500 to £5,000, depending on whether you dropship from wholesalers or hold a small range of stock in a garage or rented storage. These are estimates, so check supplier prices against your own plans.

Monthly revenue is typically around £500 to £5,000, depending on your range, your marketing and how much stock you carry. That is revenue rather than profit, so allow for supplier costs, delivery and returns of bulky items.

Check consumer rules on distance selling, including the 14-day cancellation right, and furniture fire safety rules for cushions and padded pieces. Also check product liability and stock insurance, and register as a sole trader with HMRC, checking whether VAT applies once you reach the threshold.