Online sports memorabilia seller

Fans buying gifts or treasured pieces, and collectors looking for particular players, clubs or eras.

You sell items for more than you paid, with a margin on each piece. Rarer and well-documented items usually earn more per sale, while programmes and smaller items bring steadier volume.

• Knowledge of sport and collectables
• Spotting fakes and judging condition
• Good photos and clear listings
• Careful packing and posting

• Fake signed items are a real problem, so check provenance and be clear with buyers about what proof you have
• Consumer rules on distance selling and returns usually apply to online sales, so check the current requirements
• Insure high-value stock and parcels in the post
• Register as a sole trader or company, and keep records for tax; check when VAT registration applies
• Check whether using club badges or logos in your branding could breach trade mark rights

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around £500 to £5,000, depending on the stock you buy, how you photograph and pack it, and where you sell. Estimates start from around 8 hours a week of work.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £3,000, depending on the items you stock, how well you list them and the time you put in. That is revenue, not profit, so allow for stock, postage and fees.

Check how you will prove items are genuine and be clear with buyers about your proof. Also check current distance selling and returns rules, insurance for high-value stock, tax records, VAT registration and trade mark rights over club badges.