Startup cost: $500 - $3k

Setup costs range from $500 to $3,000 depending on the scale and quality of tools and services chosen. At the minimum end, one might need basic e-commerce platform subscriptions, domain registration, and initial marketing budget. On the higher end, additional expenses could include premium AI tools for customer insights, professional website design services, and targeted advertising campaigns. Essential expenses at launch include platform fees, domain costs, and initial inventory purchases. Optional but recommended investments may include AI software subscriptions and professional branding services. Hidden or recurring fees could include monthly platform charges, marketing expenses, and software subscriptions. Online feedback suggests that costs can increase once commitments are made due to additional tools and services being added over time. To take this side hustle seriously, a friend should budget between $500 and $3,000 to cover all initial setup expenses.