Home parcel packing and posting for small sellers

Etsy, eBay and Vinted sellers, small online shops, crafters and local people who need parcels sent but have no time to do it.

A fee per parcel covering packing and handling, with postage passed on at cost or with a small margin. Regular sellers can be offered a monthly deal.

• Careful, tidy packing
• Good organisation and record keeping
• Reliable communication with customers

• Check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council needs to agree to business use of your home
• Check insurance cover for customers' goods while they are in your care, as well as public liability
• Check rules on items that cannot be posted or need special handling, such as batteries, liquids and aerosols
• Check what you will do if a parcel is lost or damaged, and make this clear in your terms

Startup costs are typically around £150 to £800, depending on packing materials, a label printer, scales and any insurance. Treat these as estimates and consider buying supplies in small amounts at first.

Monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £1,500, depending on how many sellers and local customers you serve and the volume of parcels. These are estimates of sales, not profit.

Check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council needs to agree to business use of your home. Also check insurance for customers' goods and public liability, rules on items that cannot be posted, and what happens if a parcel is lost or damaged.