Start an online silk fabric and accessories shop

Home dressmakers, small fashion designers, bridal and costume makers, crafters and gift shoppers.

You sell fabric by the metre and finished items at a mark-up on your buying price. Fabric swatches, remnant bundles and bundle deals can raise the average order value.

• Knowing fabrics and how they behave
• Photography and clear product descriptions
• Stock and order management
• Customer service

• Describe fibre content accurately, as mislabelling silk (for example passing off blends as pure silk) can break consumer protection rules, so check with Trading Standards
• Online sales have consumer rights on returns and cancellations, and there are exceptions for made-to-measure or cut goods, so check the current rules
• If you import, check customs duty, import VAT and delivery times
• Finished garments and accessories may have labelling and safety requirements, so check before selling
• Check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or insurer allows storing stock at home
• Register as a sole trader or limited company, and keep an eye on the VAT threshold

Startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £7,000, depending on how much fabric stock you buy and how you set up your own website or marketplace listings. Treat this as an estimate and plan your first stock order carefully.

Monthly revenue is typically around £500 to £2,500, depending on your stock range, pricing and how much time you put in. These are estimates rather than guarantees, and you can start at around 10 hours a week.

Check that you describe fibre content accurately, as mislabelling can break consumer protection rules, and ask Trading Standards. Also check returns and cancellation rules, including exceptions for cut goods, import duty and VAT if you import, and labelling for finished items.