Online post-in gold buying service
Customers post in unwanted gold and jewellery, you assess it and pay by bank transfer.
- £2k-10k
- Side hustle
- Online
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
8,496 UK companies in this field, 37% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 47770 “Retail sale of watches and jewellery in specialised stores”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A website where people request an insured postal bag or send items in, then you test, weigh and make an offer. If they accept, you pay by bank transfer; if not, you return the items.
Your first three steps
- Learn hallmarks and testing, and get quotes from refiners to see your likely margin
- Set up a simple website with clear steps, pricing and returns policy
- Arrange tracked, insured postage and a secure place to open and store parcels
Who pays
Members of the public across the UK selling unwanted jewellery, and refiners or dealers who buy your accumulated stock.
How it makes money
You keep the margin between what you pay customers and what refiners pay you, on a steady flow of parcels.
Skills that help
- Basic website and marketing skills
- Testing and valuing precious metals
- Organised record keeping and customer service
Watch out for
- Check whether you need a scrap metal dealer's licence from your local council
- Check anti-money laundering rules with HMRC, and keep ID and transaction records
- Disputes over lost or undervalued parcels, so have a clear policy, photos and insurance
- Trust is hard to build online, so use clear terms and reviews
- Check home business permissions, and insurance for stock kept at home
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: online post-in gold buying service
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a post-in gold buying service?
Startup costs are estimates, typically around £2,000 to £10,000, depending on your website, postal bags, testing equipment, insurance and the cash you hold to pay sellers. Check home business permissions too.
What rules should I check before buying gold by post?
Check whether you need a scrap metal dealer's licence from your local council. Also check anti-money laundering rules with HMRC and keep ID and transaction records. Check home business permissions and insurance for stock kept at home.
How much can an online gold buying service earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on how many parcels you receive, how many offers are accepted and the gap between what you pay and what refiners or dealers pay you. It assumes at least about 8 hours a week.
Other ways to run this business
Mobile gold and jewellery buyer
Visit homes or host buying days to test, weigh and buy unwanted gold, silver and jewellery.
- £3k-15k
- Side hustle
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Gold and jewellery buying shop
Open a small high-street unit or kiosk where people bring gold, silver and jewellery to sell.
- £10k-40k
- Full-time
- Own premises
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