Online skate shop with local pop-ups

Hobby and fitness skaters, parents buying for kids, roller derby players and local skate clubs.

Profit on each item sold (the markup over your wholesale cost), plus add-ons like bearing and wheel swaps, and bundles of skates with pads.

• Knowing skates, fit and parts
• Basic online store setup
• Inventory tracking
• Customer service

• Sales tax registration with your state and rules for collecting tax on online and in-person sales, check with your state's tax agency
• Wholesale accounts may require a resale certificate and minimum orders
• Unsold stock in sizes that don't move ties up cash, so start small
• General liability and product liability insurance, and a local business license if your city requires one
• Return and sizing issues are common with online footwear, set a clear returns policy

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on stock, store setup and how many pop-ups you do. Starting small helps, since unsold stock in sizes that don't move ties up cash.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $800 to $4,000, depending on your niche, stock range and how often you sell in person. Returns and sizing issues on online footwear can reduce what you keep.

Things to check: sales tax registration with your state and rules for online and in-person sales, a resale certificate for wholesale accounts, a local business license if your city requires one, and general and product liability insurance.