Start an online korean grocery store

Korean food fans, Korean families and students living far from a Korean shop, plus home cooks following K-food recipes.

You buy at wholesale and sell at a mark-up per item, with bundles and recipe boxes to raise the basket size. Customers pay for delivery or you set a free-delivery threshold.

• Knowledge of Korean ingredients
• Stock and order organisation
• Basic online selling and social media
• Customer service

• Register as a food business with your local council before trading, check how far home storage is acceptable
• Check UK labelling rules for imported products, including English ingredient and allergen information
• Best before dates and stock rotation, so you do not get stuck with expired goods
• Postage costs on heavy items like sauces and bottles can eat into margins
• Check product liability insurance and whether your home insurance covers stock

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £7,000, depending on how much stock you buy and how you set up your shop. Postage on heavy items like sauces and bottles can eat into margins.

Monthly revenue is typically around £800 to £4,500, depending on your product range, order volume and marketing. Estimates suggest allowing at least 10 hours a week. Watch best before dates so you are not left with expired stock.

Things to check include registering as a food business with your local council before trading, how far home storage is acceptable, UK labelling rules for imported products including English ingredient and allergen information, and product liability insurance.