Online cleaning supplies shop

Households, small landlords, short-term rental hosts and small businesses that want convenient ordering.

You earn the difference between your retail price and wholesale cost. Bundles and subscriptions for regular refills raise the average order.

• Online selling and basic marketing
• Customer service
• Organizing orders and suppliers

• Shipping liquid chemicals can be restricted. Check carrier rules and whether the products count as hazardous materials
• Some products, such as disinfectants, are regulated by the EPA and by states. Check labeling and sales restrictions before listing them
• Check your state's sales tax registration and online sales tax rules
• Product liability insurance, plus a returns policy for leaked or damaged items
• Marketplaces such as Amazon may limit what chemical products you can sell, so check their policies
• Thin margins and competition from big retailers, so a narrow niche usually works better

Startup costs are typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on your product range, website setup and how much stock you hold. Many orders can be drop-shipped by a wholesaler, so you may hold little or no stock. These are estimates, not guarantees.

Check carrier rules on shipping liquid chemicals and whether your products count as hazardous materials. Disinfectants may be regulated by the EPA and states, so check labeling and sales restrictions. Also check your state's sales tax registration and marketplace policies such as Amazon's.

Monthly revenue is typically around $600 to $3,000, depending on your niche, marketing and order volume. That is revenue, not profit. Margins can be thin against big retailers, so a narrow niche usually works better. Plan for at least about 8 hours a week.