Online knife and cutlery store

Home cooks, gift buyers and cooking hobbyists who want advice they can't get in a big box store.

You earn the markup between wholesale and retail price on each knife, plus add-ons like sharpening stones, honing rods, cutting boards and gift sets.

• Product knowledge about steel, blades and care
• Writing clear product pages and guides
• Basic photography and online store setup

• Rules on selling and shipping certain knives (such as automatic or switchblade types) differ by state and city, so check before listing them
• Some carriers and marketplaces have age or shipping rules for blades, so check their policies
• Brands may set minimum advertised prices or dealer requirements, so read the agreement
• Product liability and general liability insurance, so ask an insurance broker
• Sales tax collection across states, so check where you must register

Startup costs are typically around $2,000 to $8,000, depending on your stock, website setup, photography and whether a supplier ships for you. These are estimates, so choose a clear niche and a small opening range.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your niche, pricing, marketing and the quality of your guides and product pages. This is an estimate of revenue, not profit, and costs will affect what you keep.

Check state and city rules on selling and shipping certain knives, such as automatic or switchblade types. Also check carrier and marketplace blade policies, brand dealer agreements, sales tax registration across states, and product liability insurance.