E-commerce & products
Subscription box
Curate and ship a themed box to subscribers every month.
- Start-up cost
- $2k–$10k
- First revenue
- ~4 months
- Time needed
- 15+ hrs/week
- Where
- Online
Rough estimates. Costs and timelines vary a lot by location and niche.
Who thrives at this
- People who want to build something big
- People who have a strong creative streak
- People who are organized and follow through
- People who are comfortable taking big swings
- People who are comfortable selling and self-promoting
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 subscription box 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.
Some links may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no cost to you. It never affects your matches. How we choose resources
Is this the one for you?
Take the free quiz to see how well subscription box fits your personality, and what else might fit even better.
Take the quiz →