Online quilting fabric shop

Quilters, sewing hobbyists, gift buyers and guild members looking for specific fabric lines or a niche style.

Markup on fabric sold by the yard, fat quarter or bundle, plus patterns, tools and curated kits. Kits and bundles raise the order value.

• Knowledge of quilting fabrics and tools
• Good product photos and descriptions
• Packing, shipping and inventory tracking

• Check your state's rules on sales tax registration and a resale certificate for buying wholesale
• Check whether your city or county requires a business license or home occupation permit
• Unsold stock ties up cash, so start with small orders and best-selling lines
• Fabric designs and patterns are copyrighted, so only sell genuine products and do not copy designs
• Shipping costs and returns can eat into margins, so test rates before you set prices

Startup costs are typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how much stock you buy, your website setup and packing supplies. Starting with small orders of best-selling lines helps limit unsold stock.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your product range, marketing and order volume. Shipping costs and returns can eat into margins, so test rates before you set prices.

Check your state's sales tax registration rules and a resale certificate for buying wholesale. Also check whether your city or county requires a business license or home occupation permit, and only sell genuine products since fabric designs and patterns are copyrighted.