Online pottery and ceramics shop

Homeowners, gift buyers and people furnishing a kitchen or living space.

You buy at wholesale or on consignment and sell at retail price. Gift sets and bundles raise the average order value.

• Eye for design and quality
• Product photography
• Packing fragile items carefully
• Basic online marketing

• Breakage in transit: check packaging methods and shipping insurance
• Sales tax registration and collection rules in your state, and for online sales to other states
• Check whether imported items could contain lead or cadmium in glazes and ask suppliers for food-safety documentation on tableware
• Check with your city or county about a business license and any home occupation rules

Startup costs are typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how much stock you buy, your website setup and packaging supplies. These are estimates, so test small before buying large quantities.

Monthly revenue is typically around $500 to $4,000, depending on your range, pricing and how well you market the shop. This is revenue before costs such as stock, packaging and shipping.

Check breakage in transit, packaging methods and shipping insurance, plus sales tax registration and collection in your state and for sales to other states. Ask suppliers for food-safety documentation on imported tableware, including lead or cadmium in glazes, and check local business license and home occupation rules.