Online dress boutique

Women buying for weddings, parties, work, holidays or everyday wear.

You buy stock at wholesale and sell at a higher retail price. Your profit depends on markup, how much stock you sell at full price and how many items are returned.

• Spotting styles and trends
• Social media and photos
• Stock and order tracking
• Customer service

• Online sellers usually have to offer a right to cancel and refund within a set period, so check the Consumer Contracts Regulations before you set returns terms
• Returns are common with clothing, so price them in and check you can resell items
• Unsold stock ties up cash, so start with small orders
• Check product labelling rules for textiles and your wholesaler's terms
• Register as a sole trader with HMRC and check when VAT applies as sales grow
• Check that photos and brand names do not break copyright or trade mark rules

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on your website, opening stock and photography. Unsold stock ties up cash, so starting with small orders is worth considering.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £3,000, depending on your niche, range and marketing. Returns are common with clothing, so price them in and check you can resell items.

Check the Consumer Contracts Regulations on the right to cancel and refund before setting returns terms. Also check textile labelling rules, wholesaler terms, copyright and trade mark rules for photos and brand names, and registering as a sole trader with HMRC and VAT.