Online artificial plant and flower store

Homeowners decorating rooms, office managers, restaurants, stagers and event decorators who need bulk stems and greenery.

You sell at a markup over wholesale cost. Bulk bundles for decorators and offices raise your average order value.

• Product photography and listing writing
• Basic online store setup
• Customer service and handling returns
• Spotting realistic, good-quality products

• Sales tax: check your state's rules for registering and collecting tax on online sales, including what marketplaces collect for you
• Suppliers may ask for a resale certificate or business license, so check your state's requirements
• Bulky items cost a lot to ship and return, so work out shipping costs before setting prices
• Product quality varies, so order samples before listing anything
• General liability or product liability insurance is worth checking

Startup costs are typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on your store setup, how much stock you buy and whether suppliers ship for you. These are estimates, so order samples and get supplier quotes before committing.

Check your state's rules for registering and collecting sales tax on online sales, including what marketplaces collect for you. Suppliers may ask for a resale certificate or business license, so check your state's requirements. Also look into liability insurance.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $800 to $4,000, depending on your products, traffic and pricing. Bulky items cost a lot to ship and return, so work out shipping costs before setting prices. Plan on roughly 8 hours a week at minimum.