Fabric export agent working from home

Overseas designers, brands and workshops pay for the fabric, and mills or merchants may pay you commission on the sales you bring them.

Commission on each order from the mill, or a margin if you buy and resell, plus a fee for handling shipping and documents on smaller orders.

• Sales and negotiation
• Organised with paperwork and deadlines
• Clear written communication with buyers abroad
• Some knowledge of fabrics

• Check whether you need an EORI number and how to make customs declarations, or whether a freight forwarder will do this for you
• Check export VAT rules and what evidence you must keep for zero-rated sales
• Get agency terms with mills in writing, including how and when commission is paid
• Check import duties, labelling and sanctions rules for each destination country
• Payment risk: consider payment upfront or other secure payment terms with new buyers
• Check whether goods in transit need insurance, and whether you need professional indemnity cover

Startup costs are typically around £500 to £2,500, depending on your travel, samples, communications and any insurance you take out. You hold no stock, so these estimates are low compared with buying fabric yourself.

Monthly revenue is typically around £800 to £4,000, depending on the commission you agree with mills and the orders you bring in. The estimate assumes at least about 10 hours a week, and results will vary.

Check whether you need an EORI number and how customs declarations work, or whether a freight forwarder handles them. Also check export VAT rules, import duties and sanctions for each country, get agency terms in writing, and consider payment risk and insurance.