Online ski and snowboard shop

Holiday skiers and snowboarders, families planning a trip, and keen regulars buying kit before or during the season.

You buy at wholesale prices and sell at retail. Margin comes from the gap between the two, plus any delivery charges. Sales are usually busiest before and during the winter season.

• Basic online selling and product listings
• Knowledge of ski kit and sizing
• Stock and cash flow planning
• Customer service

• Strong seasonality: cash can be tied up in stock for months, so plan your cash flow
• Brands often need orders placed well ahead of the season, so check deadlines and minimum orders
• Online sales have consumer rights on returns and cancellations (check the Consumer Contracts Regulations)
• Helmets and protective gear may have safety marking requirements, so check with your supplier and Trading Standards
• Register with HMRC as a sole trader or company, and check when you would need to register for VAT

Startup costs are typically around £2,000 to £10,000, depending on the range you stock, your website setup and how much you order from wholesale suppliers. Treat this as an estimate, and consider starting with a focused range.

Check consumer rights on returns and cancellations under the Consumer Contracts Regulations, safety marking requirements for helmets and protective gear with your supplier and Trading Standards, and HMRC registration, including when VAT registration applies.

Monthly revenue is typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on your range, pricing and marketing. These are estimates, and sales are strongly seasonal, so plan your cash flow and check brands' ordering deadlines and minimum orders.