Does anyone have a shop/business as a hobby?

[StandingUpToday]

Since I was a child I've always wanted a little shop. I always dream of setting one up but have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA how to do it (tax? insurances? rates? bookkeeping?). I've just turned 40 and think, maybe now or never. I'm not even hugely bothered about it making money (obviously it would be nice!) so I suppose it's more of a side hustle to my somewhat unfullfilling day job.
Has anyone here got their own shop? Do you enjoy it? Is it a hobby? Would you recommend it? (And are we allowed to see links to your shop?! Feel free to PM me as I love to buy from small businesses especially those by women).

Following! As I've always felt the same.

DP used to have a shop. It was an utter disaster financially, I really wouldn't recommend it as a way to earn money. The success rate is low and many people lose thousands before giving up.

If you're happy to have it as an (expensive!) hobby that's fine, but have a think about how much your fixed costs would be and how many items you'd need to sell to make enough profit to cover that cost and that's before you actually pay yourself a wage.

Plus if you're wanting to stock the shop, you need a significant outlay to have things in the shop for people to buy.

To be honest, I think the only real way it can work is if your home already has some part of it that you could use as business space.

Renting actual shop premises is going go cost upwards of £10 grand a year minimum. Plus rates, utilities, staff costs for when you can't be there, etc. You're never going to be able to cover that by selling nick nacks or scented candles, are you?

I also know someone who runs a vinyl record shop on the side of their main job and it's in profit and he LOVES it as he gets to meet like minded people and there's always posts on Facebook of him welcoming ageing musicians into the shop who have popped in when passing... the type of musician my friend would recognise as he's a music geek, but most of us wouldn't have clue!

I also have a friend who has a shop selling her own artwork and cards with her artwork on etc etc. The art (to me) hideous but her father is a millionaire and she doesn't need to make money. She likes doing her art and she likes chatting to the people who go in. I don't think she makes much money - that said, I don't ask as I don't want her to know I think her art is awful!

I don't think you can have a shop "as a hobby" unless you're otherwise wealthy. Running a business of whatever kind is hard work and with increasing corporation tax and business rates, not cheap either.

When I said shop I did really mean something online rather than actual premises as I certainly wouldn't be able to afford that!

What sort of products would you be selling/making?

Your OP was quite misleading then!
What do you actually want to sell?

Ah my grandmother was a fashionista and had a second hand clothes shop for fun, but it was way before the internet so not really what you’re asking 😄

Retail is hard work, so it'll be a time consuming "hobby". Even if you don't plan to be too active, customers still expect a reliable service and won't put up with delays in despatch or sub-par quality items, even if they know you're just a "hobby". They're paying you hard earned money and expect good service. So you would forever be tied to it, going to the post office to post goods the day after they're paid for etc etc.

Online? I have a friend who makes jewellery. She attends markets too and does ok.

Sounds like an exciting opportunity but as PPs have said, it's hard work even if it's just a hobby. It depends if you'd be happy with selling the odd thing here and there, or would feel despondent if you don't get many/consistent sales.

A few things to consider:

• What you'll sell and whether you'll make it yourself or buy in


• Whether there's a market for it


• How long you realistically want to spend working on it each day/week and whether that matches what it will need


• Cost of making/buying the products


• How you'll manage inventory + store everything you need


• Branding + costs if outsourcing


• Product photography + costs of equipment/outsourcing


• Copywriting and SEO + costs if outsourcing


• Pricing (please don't price things cheaply because it's "just a hobby" as this makes it harder for non-hobby businesses to sell) inc. pricing properly from the beginning so you can move into wholesale if it did become more than a hobby, while still maintaining a margin that works for you


• Packaging + costs


• Postage costs


• Returns/refund policy (must abide by the law)


• An understanding of copyright laws


• Where you'll sell them + any associated fees/set-up/maintenance costs


• Set up separate bank accounts for the business


• Tax (tax returns aren't too bad if you keep a good track of receipts, incomings and outgoings from the start, or you can hire an accountant/buy software)


• Insurance


• Marketing + costs if you use paid ads/outsource (reaching potential customers can be the hardest and most time-consuming part)


• Communicating with customers regarding orders


• Order management - what if you became busier than expected/were sick and needed support?

I've worked with a lot of people who run small businesses selling products and, believe me, it's hard work even just to keep it ticking over. They might love making/selling the products, but it takes a lot more than that to keep a business running, even if it's not doing very well!

There are plenty of free resources online that'll help you consider everything you need to. It might seem daunting but it can be fun and rewarding, too. If you have products you love and can afford to suck up any initial outlay (in case you don't make the money back), then why not go for it? Good luck! 🍀

I have an online shop on ebay as a sideline to my full time job. Make a few hundred each month after expenses which is my fun money.