E-commerce & products
Direct-to-consumer product brand
Develop your own product line and sell it through your own store.
- Start-up cost
- $5k–$30k
- First revenue
- ~6 months
- Time needed
- 20+ hrs/week
- Where
- Online
Rough estimates. Costs and timelines vary a lot by location and niche.
Who thrives at this
- People who are comfortable taking big swings
- People who want to build something big
- People who are comfortable selling and self-promoting
- People who enjoy digging into data and puzzles
- People who can grind for a long payoff
Skills that help
Don't have them yet? Tap one to find beginner courses.
Your starter kit
The tools and steps most people need to get a direct-to-consumer product brand business off the ground.
1. Test the idea
2. Launch
- Register your business FreeChoose a structure (sole prop, LLC…) and register with your state. The SBA explains every option.
- Get an EIN from the IRS FreeYour business tax ID. Free and takes about 10 minutes online. Never pay a third party for this.
- Licenses & permits FreeFind out which local, state and federal licenses your business needs.
- Business insurance basics FreeWhat coverage small businesses typically need, and how to shop for it.
- Open a business bank account FreeKeep business money separate from day one. The SBA covers what to look for.
- Wave FreeFree accounting and invoicing for small businesses.
- Canva FreeMake a logo, flyers, social posts and business cards without hiring a designer.
- Squarespace Polished website builder for portfolios and service businesses.
- Stripe Take card payments online and send invoices.
- Shopify The standard platform for running your own online store.
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