Online hotel and B&B supplies shop

Small B&Bs, guesthouses, holiday let owners, cafes and independent hotels that want simple online ordering and quick delivery.

You buy at trade prices and sell at a margin. Repeat orders for consumables like toiletries and linen replacements build steady monthly income.

• Comfortable building or managing an online shop
• Negotiating with suppliers
• Good customer service and order tracking

• Register as a sole trader with HMRC or set up a limited company, and check when VAT registration applies to you
• Check product safety and labelling rules, especially for toiletries and cosmetics, with Trading Standards or the supplier
• Check consumer and distance selling rules, and your returns policy, even for trade customers
• Thin margins and delivery costs can erode profit, so work out your prices carefully
• If you store stock at home, check any restrictions with your landlord, mortgage lender or council

Startup costs are typically estimated at around £500 to £4,000, depending on your product range, website set-up and how much stock you hold. Many orders can be dropshipped or sent from a wholesaler, so you may hold little or no stock at first.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £300 to £3,000, depending on your range, customers and pricing. Thin margins and delivery costs can reduce profit, so work out your prices carefully before you launch.

Check whether to register as a sole trader or set up a limited company, and when VAT registration applies. Also check product safety and labelling rules for toiletries, consumer and distance selling rules, your returns policy, and any home storage restrictions.