Online health and beauty shop

Online shoppers looking for products that suit their skin, hair or lifestyle, often returning customers who find you through social media or search.

You buy stock from wholesalers or brands and sell at a higher price. Profit comes from the gap between buying and selling price, minus postage, fees and advertising.

• Choosing products customers want
• Basic online selling and social media
• Stock and order organisation
• Customer service

• Cosmetic products sold in the UK have specific safety and labelling rules, check the requirements with Trading Standards or the OPSS before selling
• If you make your own products, you usually need a safety assessment and product notification, check the current rules
• Public liability and product liability insurance
• Consumer rights for online sales, including returns and refunds, are worth checking
• Avoid health claims you cannot back up, and check rules on supplements
• Tying up money in stock that does not sell

Startup costs are estimated at typically around £500 to £3,500, depending on your product range, how much stock you buy and how you set up your website or marketplace shop. Stock that doesn't sell can tie up money.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £300 to £3,000, depending on your niche, product prices, stock levels and how well you attract returning customers. These figures are revenue, not profit.

Check the safety and labelling requirements for cosmetics with Trading Standards or the OPSS before selling. If you make products, check the rules on safety assessments and notification, plus insurance, consumer rights on returns, and health claims.