Online novelty and gag gift shop

Shoppers looking for birthday, holiday and office gifts, plus party planners and people who love a good prank.

You buy products wholesale or from suppliers and sell at a markup. Bundles, gift sets and seasonal collections help raise the average order.

• Picking products that make people smile
• Basic online store setup and photos
• Packing orders and handling customer questions

• Check your state's rules on sales tax registration and collecting tax on online sales
• Check product safety rules, especially for anything children might use, and avoid items that infringe trademarks or copyrights
• Shipping costs and returns can eat into margins, so price carefully
• Check HOA or lease rules if you store stock at home

Startup costs are typically around $500 to $3,000, depending on how much stock you buy, your store platform and your packing supplies. These are estimates, so start with a small range and see what sells.

Monthly revenue is typically around $300 to $3,000, depending on your products, pricing, marketing and shipping costs. This is an estimate of revenue, not profit, so price carefully to cover returns and postage.

Check your state's rules on sales tax registration and collecting tax on online sales. Also check product safety rules, especially for items children might use, avoid trademark or copyright infringement, and review any HOA or lease rules on home storage.