Online herb and herbal tea shop

People who like cooking, brewing herbal teas or choosing traditional natural products, buying for themselves or as gifts.

You buy in bulk and sell smaller packs at a mark-up, with extra from gift sets, tea blends and subscriptions.

• Basic website or marketplace set-up
• Careful packing and labelling
• Product knowledge and honest descriptions
• Social media or email marketing

• Food business registration with your local council, usually needed before you start (check with them)
• Food labelling rules, including ingredients and allergens, and food hygiene training
• Avoid health claims on products, as there are strict rules on what you can say about herbal remedies
• Some herbal medicines need a specific registration (check with the MHRA before selling anything described as a remedy)
• Check with your landlord or mortgage lender about running a business from home
• Product liability insurance

Startup costs are typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on the range of herbs and teas you stock, your packaging and labelling, and your website set-up. These are estimates, so price your wholesale stock before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically around £200 to £2,000, depending on your range, your marketing and how many repeat customers you build. That is revenue rather than profit, so allow for stock, packaging and postage.

Check food business registration with your local council, food labelling rules including allergens, and food hygiene training. Avoid health claims, check with the MHRA before selling anything described as a remedy, and check product liability insurance and landlord or lender permission.