Online perfume shop with decants and samples

Fragrance fans, gift buyers and people who want to try a scent before committing to a full bottle.

Profit on the difference between your wholesale cost and your selling price, plus higher margins on sample sets and gift bundles.

• Knowing fragrance families and notes
• Writing clear product descriptions
• Packing and shipping orders
• Customer service

• Buy only from authorized sources; counterfeit or gray market stock can cause legal and reputation problems
• Check whether decanting and relabeling perfume is allowed by the brand's terms and by labeling rules (FDA cosmetic labeling, state rules)
• Shipping restrictions: perfumes with alcohol are often flammable and may be classed as hazardous materials by carriers, so check USPS, UPS and FedEx rules
• Sales tax registration and collection rules vary by state
• General liability and product liability insurance
• Check home occupation rules if you store stock at home

Startup costs are typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the amount of stock you buy, your website and packaging. These are estimates, so start with a focused range and grow as sales come in.

Monthly revenue is typically around $500 to $4,000, depending on your range, traffic and how well your samples turn into full bottle sales. These are estimates, not guarantees.

Check that you buy only from authorized sources, and whether decanting and relabeling is allowed by brand terms and labeling rules, including FDA cosmetic labeling and state rules. Also check carrier shipping rules for alcohol-based perfume and state sales tax.