Online tatami mat store

Homeowners adding a Japanese-style room, martial arts and yoga studios, interior designers, and people renovating a den or kids' play area.

You buy at wholesale and sell at a markup per mat or per room set. Custom sizes, edging options and shipping fees add to the margin.

• Building and running an online shop
• Product knowledge and clear sizing advice
• Customer service and handling returns
• Working with overseas suppliers

• Import duties, customs paperwork and shipping times if you buy from overseas, check with a customs broker
• Natural rush grass (igusa) products may have plant import rules, check with USDA APHIS
• Sales tax registration with your state and rules for online sales into other states
• Made-to-measure mats are hard to resell if a customer orders the wrong size, set a clear returns policy
• Product liability and general liability insurance
• If you store stock at home, check lease or HOA rules and keep mats dry to avoid mold

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on your website, whether you hold stock, and sample and shipping costs. Treat this as an estimate and check supplier terms.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $600 to $3,000, depending on your product range, marketing and whether you offer made-to-measure mats. This is revenue before costs such as stock, shipping and returns.

Check import duties, customs paperwork and shipping times with a customs broker. Natural rush grass (igusa) products may have plant import rules, so check with USDA APHIS. Also check state sales tax registration and rules for online sales into other states.