Online costume and dress-up store

Parents, party hosts, teachers, community theatre groups and people shopping for Halloween, school events or cosplay.

Profit on each item sold, plus bundle deals for groups and schools. Sales spike around Halloween, so many owners add year-round lines like themed parties and book week outfits.

• Choosing products that sell
• Basic online store setup
• Product photos and descriptions
• Customer service and handling returns

• Sales tax registration and collection rules, which differ by state, so check your state's tax agency
• Licensed characters and brands: selling unlicensed copies can lead to takedowns or legal trouble
• Children's product safety rules, such as flammability and labeling, so ask suppliers for compliance details and check with the CPSC
• Seasonal demand and unsold stock after Halloween

Estimates typically put startup costs around $1,000 to $6,000, depending on whether you buy stock in bulk, use wholesalers or have suppliers ship directly. Treat these figures as estimates.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $4,000, depending on your niche, products and marketing. Demand can be seasonal, and unsold stock after Halloween can affect results.

Check your state tax agency about sales tax registration and collection. Be careful with licensed characters and brands, since unlicensed copies can lead to takedowns. For children's items, ask suppliers about flammability and labeling compliance and check with the CPSC.