Online variety store from home

Households and gift buyers looking for inexpensive items, often buying several small products in one order.

You sell at a mark-up on wholesale prices. Profit depends on keeping postage, marketplace fees and returns under control, so light, easy-to-post items work best.

• Basic website or marketplace use
• Product photos and listings
• Packing and order handling
• Working out margins after fees and postage

• Distance selling rules, including customers' right to cancel and return items, check the government guidance
• Product safety rules and labelling for items like toys and electricals, check trading standards
• Check with your landlord, lender or council before storing large amounts of stock at home
• Public liability and product liability insurance
• Thin margins once fees and postage are included, so test prices carefully

Startup costs are typically around £300 to £3,000, depending on how much stock you buy and whether you use your own website or a marketplace. Treat these as estimates and test prices carefully before buying in bulk.

Monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £3,000, depending on your product range, pricing and how much time you put in. Margins can be thin once fees and postage are included, so test your prices carefully.

Check the government guidance on distance selling, including customers' right to cancel and return items, and trading standards advice on product safety and labelling. Also check with your landlord, lender or council before storing large amounts of stock at home, and look at insurance.