Online made-to-order sofa shop

Households happy to buy a sofa online after seeing swatches and clear photos, including people in areas with few furniture shops.

You keep the margin between the trade price and your online price. Swatch packs, delivery upgrades and accessories can add smaller extra income.

• Building or managing a simple online shop
• Clear product descriptions and photography
• Customer service by phone, email and chat
• Organising orders with suppliers

• Upholstered furniture must meet UK fire safety rules, so check your supplier's products are compliant and labelled
• Online sales rules, including cancellation rights, and whether made-to-order goods are treated differently, check with Trading Standards
• Customer deposits: be clear on what happens if the manufacturer is late or stops trading
• Damage in delivery and delays, agree who is responsible with your supplier in writing
• Public liability and product liability insurance, check what your supplier already covers
• Customers not being able to try a sofa, so expect questions and some returns disputes

Startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £8,000, depending on your website, fabric swatches, photography and supplier arrangements. These are estimates, and with no showroom or stock held, costs can stay lower than for a shop.

Monthly revenue is typically around £2,000 to £10,000, depending on your range, pricing and how well you attract customers online. Estimates suggest at least 15 hours a week. Revenue is before supplier costs and other expenses.

Check that your supplier's sofas meet UK fire safety rules and are labelled. Also check online sales rules, including cancellation rights and whether made-to-order goods are treated differently, with Trading Standards, and be clear on customer deposits if a manufacturer is late or stops trading.