Online furniture hardware and accessories store

Homeowners doing DIY updates and furniture flippers, plus interior designers, small upholsterers and other trade buyers who reorder.

You earn the margin between your wholesale cost and your retail price, plus shipping fees. Trade accounts and bundles (for example, a full set of pulls for a kitchen) raise the order size.

• Eye for style and product details
• Basic online store setup
• Inventory tracking and order packing
• Clear product photos and descriptions

• Sales tax registration: check your state's rules, including when you must collect tax in other states
• General liability and product liability insurance: ask an insurer what suits online product sellers
• Returns and wrong-size orders, so list measurements clearly and set a return policy
• Cash tied up in stock, so start with a small range
• Check whether your city or county requires a business license, and any HOA or lease rules if you ship from home

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on how much stock you buy, your store setup and insurance. Starting with a small range can help limit the cash tied up in inventory.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $5,000, depending on your niche, product range and how many repeat trade buyers you win. These are estimates, so test demand with a small range first.

Check your state's sales tax registration rules, including when you must collect tax in other states. Ask an insurer about general and product liability cover, check city or county business license rules, and any HOA or lease limits.