Online car service parts shop

DIY motorists, car enthusiasts and small independent garages or mobile mechanics buying online.

You buy parts at trade prices and sell at a mark-up, often as bundled service kits for popular cars. Repeat buyers and garage accounts help steady sales.

• Knowledge of car parts and servicing
• Careful with detail so the right part is matched to the right car
• Customer service and handling returns
• Basic online selling skills

• Wrong-fit parts cause returns, so use reliable vehicle look-up data and check the part number
• Distance selling rules give most consumers a right to return goods, so check the current rules before you set your policy
• Product liability and public liability insurance, plus cover for stock, are worth checking
• Counterfeit or poor-quality parts, so buy only from reputable suppliers
• Some carriers restrict oils and aerosols, so check shipping rules
• Check whether you need permission to run the business from home

Startup costs are typically around £500 to £4,000, depending on how much stock you hold and how you set up your shop. Having suppliers send orders direct can mean holding less stock yourself.

Monthly revenue is typically around £500 to £4,000, depending on the range you list and how many orders you get. That is an estimate of revenue, not profit, so supplier costs and shipping come out of it.

Check you use reliable vehicle look-up data to avoid wrong-fit returns, and the current distance selling rules for your returns policy. Also check product liability, public liability and stock cover, supplier quality, and carrier limits on oils and aerosols.