Online cleaning supplies shop for small firms

Self-employed cleaners, holiday let hosts, landlords, small businesses and households who want convenient bundles and reordering.

You earn the margin on each order. Bundles, subscriptions for regular refills and higher-value trade orders help raise the average sale.

• Online selling and basic marketing
• Organising stock and orders
• Customer service
• Careful packing of liquids

• Product labelling, safety data sheets and hazardous product rules (CLP); check with Trading Standards or the HSE
• Couriers often restrict or refuse some chemicals, so check carrier rules and use proper packaging
• Distance selling and consumer rules for online sales, including returns
• Storing stock at home may need permission from your landlord or mortgage lender, and may affect home insurance
• Product liability insurance for the items you sell
• Thin margins against big online sellers, so a niche helps

Startup costs are typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on how much stock you hold and the niche you choose. These are estimates, so check wholesaler prices and packaging costs before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically around £500 to £2,500, depending on how many cleaners, landlords and households order from you. The estimate assumes at least around 8 hours a week, and a niche can help with thin margins.

Check product labelling, safety data sheets and hazardous product rules (CLP) with Trading Standards or the HSE. Also check courier restrictions on chemicals, distance selling and returns rules, product liability insurance, and whether storing stock at home needs permission.