Online contact lens shop

Adults who wear contacts and want to reorder online, often by repeat subscription, plus people looking for specific lens brands or types.

You earn the margin between your wholesale price and your selling price on each box. Repeat reorders every few months are the core of the business. Shipping fees or small service fees may add a little.

• Careful with detail and paperwork
• Customer service by email and phone
• Basic online store management
• Comfortable following health regulations

• Contact lenses are regulated medical devices, so check FDA and FTC rules, including the prescription verification requirements
• Check whether your state requires a dispensing license, or a licensed optician or optometrist, and the rules for shipping to other states
• Manufacturers and distributors may limit who can open accounts or set minimum prices, so confirm this before you invest
• Check product liability and general liability insurance, and a plan for returns and wrong prescriptions
• Large online sellers compete hard on price, so margins can be thin

Startup costs are typically around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on your stock, website, supplier arrangements and insurance. These are estimates, and your costs will depend on how much inventory you hold.

Monthly revenue is typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on your lens range, customer service and how many repeat orders you win. Large online sellers compete hard on price, so margins can be thin.

Contact lenses are regulated medical devices, so check FDA and FTC rules, including prescription verification. Also check whether your state requires a dispensing license or a licensed optician or optometrist, rules for shipping to other states, and supplier account limits.