Online quilting fabric shop

Quilters and sewing hobbyists, plus people buying gifts or kits for a first project.

You buy fabric and tools at trade prices and sell at a markup, by the metre, bundle or kit. Postage charges and bundles can lift the average order.

• Knowledge of quilting fabrics and tools
• Basic website or marketplace selling
• Careful stock and order handling

• Distance selling rules: check what you must tell customers about returns and cancellations
• Colours look different on screen, so offer swatches and be clear about returns
• Stock tied up in fabric you can't sell, so start small and reorder what sells
• Check whether your home insurance covers stock stored at home, and whether you need product or public liability cover
• Check any restrictions on running a business from home with your landlord or mortgage lender

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on how much fabric and how many tools you stock and how you sell. Starting small and reordering what sells helps avoid money tied up in slow stock.

Check distance selling rules, including what you must tell customers about returns and cancellations. Also check whether your home insurance covers stock stored at home, whether you need product or public liability cover, and any landlord or mortgage lender restrictions.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £3,000, depending on your range, your marketing and whether you use your own site or marketplaces. Offering swatches can help, as colours look different on screen.