Start an online garden statue shop

Homeowners, gift buyers, landscapers and garden designers looking for decorative pieces.

You buy at trade price and sell at a markup, with delivery charged on top for heavy items. Larger pieces and trade orders bring in the biggest sales.

• Building and running an online shop
• Taking good product photos
• Dealing with suppliers and couriers
• Customer service

• Heavy items are easily damaged in transit, so check courier cover and packaging
• Consumer rules on returns and distance selling, check the current guidance
• Frost can crack some materials, so be clear about suitability for outdoor use
• Check whether you need to register for VAT as sales grow
• Check where you will store stock and whether your home insurance covers it

Startup costs are typically around £1,000 to £6,000, depending on whether you hold stock or use supplier dispatch, and on your website set-up. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at £500 to £4,000, depending on your range and traffic.

Things to check: courier cover and packaging for heavy items that damage easily, current consumer rules on returns and distance selling, and whether you need to register for VAT as sales grow. Also check where you will store stock and whether home insurance covers it.

Useful skills include running an online shop, taking good product photos, dealing with suppliers and couriers, and customer service. Estimates suggest at least 8 hours a week. Be clear about which pieces suit outdoor use, as frost can crack some materials.