Setting Up an Online Store – Is It a Viable Business for Stay at Home Parents?*

In short, the answer is YES.

Anything can be a viable business but the thing with setting a shop online, it’s not as easy as it looks to make it worth the time and money. You have to be willing to put the effort in and that’s something people don’t seem to consider, especially stay at home parents who already have a full plate. You see other online stores advertising (we’ll get to more of that in a bit) their wares on social media and you think “hey, I could do that”, it looks like it could be an easy side hustle to bring you family a little more cash flow, but an online shop can quick turn into a full time job if you actually want to see some dividends and then it might not be as lucrative as you first though.

So if you really think you could make a go of running your own online store, here are a few things you might not have thought about, and reasons why you should think about them before considering if this really is a viable venture for you.

What Are You Going to Sell?

For many people it’s as simple as being creative enough to make something to sell. If you can sew you could make clothes and textiles, or perhaps you have a secret skill in typography and can make some art? If you have a hobby that you could turn into something to sell from home, you’re sorted. But if you’re not, you have to decide what is going to work for you. Will you sell other peoples crafts? Or perhaps you decide to buy in, such items as wholesale gift sets as you would in a physical store? Or maybe you’ll offer service? Whatever you decide to sell, you should start out with a small amount of options and as your sales grows, so should your stock. This way you limit the chance of a loss before you really get off the ground.

How Will You Advertise?

Yes, Google is an amazing tool at your finger tips, but it’s not as simple as expecting someone to find your shop by just typing in what they’re after. You really have to put a lot of work into making your shop stand out. You don’t have the luxury of a glossy store front to catch those out shopping as they pass by, you really have to put the work in if you’re selling exclusively online. The best way to do this is;

• Set up corresponding social media to your store, like and share similar stores, re-share any content that your buyers create (everyone posts their buys online these days) and use the power of the influencer to your advantage.
• Pop physical business cards in with your orders. I love mine from Aura Print.
• Use platforms such as Etsy when you’re small.

Don’t Forget You’re Running a Business

At the end of the day, you’re running a business and with that comes a lot of legal requirements that you can’t forget about. If you’re making something be aware of licensing, I have known friends getting cease and desist letters from big companies such as Warner Brothers and Disney. They really don’t like you making a profit off their brand. If you’re selling food related items, you have to really research all the health and safety that goes with that. Just because you’re selling online you are not exempt from hygiene awards.

You also need to remember that you need to keep accurate books and submit tax returns, and of course pay tax and national insurance. Do not even attempt to do this off the record because HMRC is really cracking down and it could lead to problems down the road. As soon as you make your first sale, make sure you declare yourself as self employed.

I started out saying yes, an online shop can be a viable business, but it’s not without any of the work that comes with having a job, be sure you are ready!