Online glass block shop

Homeowners doing bathroom, basement or shower projects, small contractors and remodelers, and installers who want an easy source of specialty patterns.

You earn the markup between wholesale and retail price on each order, plus margin on add-on items like installation kits. Helpful guides and size calculators can win you search traffic.

• Basic online store setup
• Customer service and answering product questions
• Organizing orders and supplier communication

• Freight damage and breakage: check who is responsible and how claims are handled
• Sales tax registration and resale certificate rules in your state, and for the states you ship to
• General liability and product liability insurance, which suppliers or marketplaces may ask for
• Return policies on heavy, fragile items, so check shipping and restocking costs before you promise anything
• Customers may ask about building codes or structural use: say clearly that they should check with their local building department or a pro

Startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $6,000, depending on your store setup, supplier arrangements and insurance. These are estimates, and orders ship direct from a manufacturer or distributor, so you don't need a warehouse.

Monthly revenue is typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on your product range, pricing and how many orders you win from homeowners and installers. Treat this as an estimate, not a guarantee.

Check sales tax registration and resale certificate rules in your state and the states you ship to. Also check who handles freight damage claims, insurance such as product liability, return policies, and tell customers to check building codes locally.