Online specialist hardware shop

DIY householders and small tradespeople who want a specific item or a convenient bundle delivered.

Margin on each item sold, plus higher-value bundles and kits. Selling a niche range helps you avoid competing on price with large retailers.

• Choosing a niche range that people search for
• Basic website or marketplace listing skills
• Careful packing and order handling

• Consumer rules on distance selling, returns and product descriptions, check the latest guidance
• Product safety and labelling duties for items you sell, and restrictions on postage for some goods
• Storage space at home, and whether you need permission from your landlord or mortgage lender
• Public liability and product liability insurance, and marketplace fees eating into margins

Startup costs are typically around £1,000 to £6,000, depending on your stock range, website or marketplace setup and whether you store goods at home or in a small unit.

Monthly revenue is typically around £500 to £4,000, depending on your niche, range and how many orders you handle. Marketplace fees can reduce margins, so check what you would keep per order.

Check consumer rules on distance selling, returns and product descriptions, plus product safety, labelling and postage restrictions for items you sell. Also check whether your landlord or mortgage lender allows home storage, and which insurance you need.