Home-Based custom gift baskets

Individuals sending gifts to friends and family, plus small local businesses and offices that want client or employee gifts.

You sell each basket at a price above the cost of the items, packaging and shipping. Fixed price tiers and custom orders both work, and busy seasons like the winter holidays and Mother's Day bring more orders.

• An eye for design and presentation
• Organizing orders and deadlines
• Sourcing products at good prices
• Customer service

• Check whether your city or county requires a home occupation permit, and whether your HOA or lease allows a home business
• If you include food, check your state's cottage food or food handling rules and any labeling requirements
• Register for a state sales tax permit if your state requires it, and check how resale certificates work with suppliers
• General liability and product liability insurance are worth checking, especially with food or candles
• Shipping breakage and perishable items can eat into margins, so test your packaging

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $300 to $2,500, depending on your stock, packaging, website and insurance. Treat this as an estimate and test your packaging and pricing before buying in bulk.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $300 to $3,000, depending on your order volume, pricing and how much time you put in. The estimate assumes at least about 6 hours a week.

Check whether your city or county requires a home occupation permit, and whether your HOA or lease allows a home business. If you include food, check cottage food rules, labeling, and whether you need a state sales tax permit.