Online underwear and nightwear shop

Everyday shoppers who want convenience, privacy and a wider choice of sizes and styles than a local shop offers.

You buy stock at wholesale prices and sell at retail prices. Profit comes from the margin, minus postage, returns, platform fees and advertising.

• Choosing products people want
• Basic website or marketplace skills
• Customer service and handling returns

• Distance selling rules: customers can usually cancel and return online orders within a set period, but the exemption for hygiene-sensitive goods can depend on whether the item is sealed and has been unsealed after delivery. Confirm how this applies to underwear with Trading Standards or Citizens Advice, and set out your returns policy clearly on your site
• Stock risk: sizes and styles that don't sell tie up your cash
• Product safety and labelling rules, especially for children's nightwear, which has flame safety requirements to check with Trading Standards
• Registering as a sole trader with HMRC and checking when VAT applies
• Data protection: you will hold customer names and addresses, so check with the ICO whether you need to pay the data protection fee

Startup costs are typically around £500 to £4,000, depending on your stock levels and how you set up your website or marketplace shop. These are estimates. Sizes and styles that don't sell can tie up your cash, so plan your first order carefully.

Monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £3,000, depending on your niche, range and how many customers you attract. This is sales before costs, and the figures are estimates. Expect to spend at least around 8 hours a week.

Check how returns rules apply to underwear, as the hygiene exemption can depend on whether items are sealed, with Trading Standards or Citizens Advice. Also check flame safety requirements for children's nightwear, HMRC registration and VAT, and the ICO data protection fee.