Online specialist ironmongery shop

Home owners restoring or renovating, joiners, builders, landlords and interior designers who want items the high street does not stock.

Mark-up on each item sold. Clear photos, sizes and finish guides help justify the price and cut returns. Repeat trade customers can bring larger orders.

• Product knowledge in your chosen niche
• Basic website and listing skills
• Order handling and packing
• Customer service by email or phone

• Online sales rules, including the 14-day cancellation right for most distance sales; check the Consumer Contracts Regulations
• Heavy items are costly to post, so check courier rates and damage risk before pricing
• Where products are used as fire door or security hardware, check that they carry the right certification before claiming it
• Check whether your home insurance or tenancy allows storing stock, and take out product liability insurance
• Check VAT registration once your turnover nears the threshold
• Returns and wrong-size orders can eat margin, so make dimensions very clear

Estimates typically put startup costs at around £2,000 to £10,000, depending on your niche, how much stock you hold and your website set-up. Heavy items are costly to post, so check courier rates and damage risk before pricing.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on your niche, range and marketing. This is revenue, not profit, and returns, postage and wrong-size orders can eat into margins, so make dimensions very clear.

Check the Consumer Contracts Regulations, including the 14-day cancellation right for most distance sales. If you sell fire door or security hardware, check it carries the right certification before claiming it. Also check VAT registration as turnover nears the threshold, and product liability insurance.