Start an online saree boutique

Women buying for weddings, festivals, parties and family events, plus guests and gift buyers.

You buy at wholesale and sell at a higher retail price. Extras like stitched blouses, petticoats, fall and pico services and gift sets can add to each order.

• Eye for fabrics, colours and trends
• Social media and product photography
• Order handling and customer service

• Distance selling rules: check customers' rights to cancel and return, and write clear returns terms
• Register as a sole trader or limited company and check when VAT registration applies
• Check import duty and VAT on stock bought from outside the UK, and allow for delivery delays
• Colours can look different on screen, so return rates can be high; photograph honestly

Startup costs are typically around £1,000 to £6,000, depending on how much stock you buy, how your website is set up and how you photograph products. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at £300 to £4,000.

Check distance selling rules on customers' rights to cancel and return, and write clear returns terms. Also check when to register as a sole trader or limited company, when VAT registration applies, and import duty and VAT on stock bought from outside the UK.

The estimate is at least 8 hours a week to start, depending on how often you list stock, answer customers and post orders. Useful skills include an eye for fabrics and colours, product photography, social media and customer service.