Online lingerie wholesaler run from home

Independent boutiques, market traders, online shop owners and salons or gift shops that want to add lingerie.

You buy at a wholesale price and sell at a higher trade price, usually with a minimum order. Your profit is the gap between the two, minus postage, storage and returns.

• Spotting styles and sizes that sell
• Negotiating with suppliers
• Stock and order tracking
• Building trade customer relationships

• Check product safety and labelling rules for clothing sold in the UK, including fibre content labelling
• If importing, check customs duty, import VAT and any post-Brexit paperwork with HMRC
• Check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council needs to agree to storing stock at home
• Unsold stock and returns tie up cash, so start with small orders
• Consider public liability and stock insurance, and check whether home contents cover stock

Startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £7,000, depending on how much stock you buy, whether you import, and whether suppliers ship direct to customers. Unsold stock and returns tie up cash, so start with small orders.

Monthly revenue is typically around £500 to £4,000, depending on your range, supplier terms and how many trade customers you win. Hours are typically at least 8 a week. These are revenue estimates, not profit.

Check product safety and labelling rules for clothing, including fibre content labelling. If importing, check customs duty, import VAT and paperwork with HMRC. Check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council needs to agree to storing stock at home, and consider insurance.