Online specialty pipe and fittings store

Small plumbers and contractors, DIY homeowners, farmers and ranchers, and landscapers looking for the right part without a trip to the store.

Markup on each product sold, often with bundled kits and shipping fees. Selling hard-to-find sizes or complete kits can protect your margins.

• Product knowledge and clear writing
• Basic website or marketplace setup
• Customer service by email or chat
• Handling orders and shipping

• State sales tax registration and collection rules for online sales: check your state
• Products used for drinking water may need to meet standards such as lead-free and NSF certification
• Heavy or long items can be costly and awkward to ship, so check carrier limits and rates
• Some cements and primers have shipping restrictions as hazardous materials
• Return handling and wrong-size orders can eat into small margins
• Home-based business rules, HOA or lease limits if you store stock at home

As an estimate, startup costs are typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on your website or marketplace setup, whether you drop-ship or hold your own stock, and how much you spend on sizing guides and marketing.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your niche, product range and pricing. Returns, wrong-size orders and shipping costs for heavy or long items can eat into small margins.

Check your state's sales tax registration and collection rules for online sales. Also check lead-free and NSF standards for drinking water products, shipping restrictions on cements and primers as hazardous materials, and HOA or lease limits if you store stock at home.