Online record and CD shop

Collectors, DJs and music fans looking for specific titles, plus people wanting gifts.

You earn the gap between what you pay for stock and your selling price, after marketplace fees and postage. Rare and well-graded items usually earn the most per sale.

• Knowledge of a music genre or era
• Grading records and checking condition
• Photographing and describing items clearly
• Careful packing

• Counterfeit or bootleg records; check items carefully before selling
• Consumer rules on distance selling and returns, check GOV.UK guidance
• Marketplace fees and postage costs that can reduce your margin
• Damage in the post, use proper mailers and consider insurance
• Check whether your home insurance covers stock stored at home

Startup costs are typically around £300 to £3,000, depending on how much stock you buy, plus packing materials and any website costs. These are estimates, so set your own budget before sourcing stock.

Monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £2,500, depending on the stock you source, how well you list it and the marketplaces you use. These are estimates, and marketplace fees and postage can reduce your margin.

Check items carefully for counterfeit or bootleg records, and review GOV.UK guidance on distance selling and returns. Also check marketplace fees and postage costs, how to protect parcels in the post, and whether your home insurance covers stock at home.