Online boiler and heating parts shop

Self-employed heating engineers, landlords, small maintenance firms and homeowners who need the right part quickly.

You buy at trade price and sell at a mark-up, with delivery charged or built into the price. Repeat orders from engineers are the steadiest income.

• Knowing heating parts, or a willingness to learn them
• Online selling and product listings
• Customer service and handling returns

• Selling the wrong part is the main risk, so check compatibility and be clear about returns under consumer rules
• Installing gas appliances must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, so make clear you only supply parts unless you are registered yourself
• Check whether you need to register for electrical and electronic waste (WEEE) rules and product safety obligations
• Product liability and public liability insurance, so ask a broker what suits parts sellers
• Thin margins where large online sellers compete on price, so a niche and good advice matter

Startup costs are typically around £500 to £4,000, depending on your website, range and any stock you hold. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £500 to £4,000, depending on your niche, pricing and how well you advise customers.

Check part compatibility and returns under consumer rules. Gas appliance installation must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, so make clear you only supply parts. Also check WEEE and product safety obligations, and product and public liability insurance.

You need knowledge of heating parts or a willingness to learn them, online selling and product listing skills, and good customer service for returns. The estimate is at least around 10 hours a week, depending on order volume.