Online appliance parts store for diyers and repair techs

Homeowners fixing their own appliances, landlords and property managers, and small repair businesses buying parts.

You earn the margin between your cost and your selling price on each part. Compatibility help, bundles of common parts and fast shipping let you charge a fair price.

• Matching parts to model numbers
• Online listings and photos
• Customer service by email or chat
• Basic bookkeeping

• Sales tax registration and collection rules in your state and in states you ship to, check with your state tax agency
• Wrong-part returns can eat your margin, so make model-number checking easy
• Counterfeit or poor-quality parts, buy from reputable distributors and check warranty terms
• Marketplace fees and rules for selling electrical parts
• Product liability coverage, ask an insurer about general liability for product sellers

Startup costs are typically around $500 to $5,000, depending on whether you hold stock or have suppliers ship direct, and how you set up your shop or marketplace listings. These are estimates only.

Monthly revenue is typically around $500 to $5,000, depending on your parts range, pricing and how many sales you win. These are estimates, and the business typically needs at least 8 hours a week.

Check sales tax registration and collection rules in your state and the states you ship to, with your state tax agency. Also check marketplace rules for electrical parts, and ask an insurer about general liability for product sellers.