Subscription box business ideas is an exciting and growing industry.
Our subscription box business ideas guide will help you choose the right subscription box business for your business.
Subscription boxes are a great way to get new customers and keep them coming back. They are easy to set up and they don’t cost a lot of money. You can start with one box and then expand if you like.
You can use them to promote your brand, products and services. You can also use them to give away freebies to your subscribers.
Here are some tips on how to run a successful subscription box business.
- Choose a niche
- Find a supplier
- Set the price
- Design the packaging
- Create an offer that is unique
- Promote it online
- Get feedback from potential customers
- Start collecting payments
- Keep records
- Make sure you have enough inventory
- Have fun!
How should I choose a niche for my subscription box business?
Choosing a niche means choosing what kind of product or service you will be offering in your subscription box. It’s important to pick something that people want but may not know about yet. For example, if you’re going to sell makeup, make sure there isn’t already a company out there doing exactly what you plan to do. If so, you’ll need to come up with a different idea.
How much does it cost to start a subscription box business?
It depends on multiple factors including quality of customer base, competition, industry segment, marketing tools used, sales volume, profit margin and size of distribution channel. The average wholesale selling prices range from $50-$100 per month depending upon the item being offered. Retailers pay anywhere between $25 and $75 each time someone subscribes to their box.
In addition, retailers must purchase additional inventory at regular intervals to meet demand which makes starting a subscription box business expensive.
What percentage of people buy subscription boxes in 2022?
Clutch’s 2019 survey found that more than half of online shoppers (54%) say they are a member of a subscription box service and 2019 private study found 25% of all shoppers receive a subscription box regularly.
Subscription Box Business Ideas
Here are some of the best subscription box business ideas:
Beauty Box
Beauty boxes are popular because they provide women with high end beauty samples without having to spend too much money. Most companies charge around $20-$40 dollars a month for these subscriptions. Some even include coupons and other incentives as well. These boxes usually contain 5-15 full sized sample sizes of cosmetics.
Pet Food Subscriptions
Pet owners love getting pet food deliveries every week. They help keep pets healthy and happy while saving them from spending hours preparing meals. There is no shortage of dog and cat food brands out there today.
However, most pet food products aren’t very nutritious. That’s why pet food subscriptions were created. Companies like Blue Buffalo, IAMS, Hill’s Science Diet, Nutro, Royal Canin, Purina One, Zuke’s, and many others started offering monthly or biweekly pet food subscriptions so customers could enjoy fresh, wholesome foods tailored specifically for dogs and cats.
Home Goods & Furniture Deliveries
Furniture and home good delivery services make life easier for busy families who can’t always find time to go shopping. You can choose from different types of furniture and home goods when you sign up for this type of service.
Coffee Clubs
Coffee clubs are similar to wine clubs except instead of trying new wines, coffee drinkers select beans based off flavor profiles. The company will send members weekly shipments of specialty roasted coffee which includes everything needed to brew an espresso at home including grinders, filters, pods, and machines.
Members also get access to educational content about how to roast and prepare coffee professionally.
Grocery Delivery Services
Groceries are another product category that has seen success through subscription models. For example, Peapod offers its subscribers two options: $9.99/month, or $14.99/week. Ship delivers groceries via local shoppers who work under independent contractors rather than employees. Their system requires users to first download the app onto both iOS and Android devices, after which they shop locally whenever possible.
Cleaning Supplies Subscriptions
If you’re tired of cleaning supplies piling up in your house during the year, then a cleaning supply subscription might be right for you. Many providers offer clean-up kits with basic tools such as brooms, mops, dustpans, trash bags, scrubbing sponges, disinfectant sprayer bottles, etc., delivered straight to your door.
Each kit contains enough supplies to last you several months.
Dog Treats Delivered To Your Doorstep
Dog owners often have trouble keeping their dogs’ food fresh due to lack of storage space. This problem could potentially be solved by having dog treats delivered monthly so that there’s never any shortage of yummy snacks!
Meal Kits
Meal kits are convenient meal solutions designed specifically for those who struggle to cook healthy meals every day. They come prepackaged with ingredients like meats, vegetables, fruits, grains, oils, spices, herbs, and more. You simply add water and follow instructions to make delicious dishes without worrying about measuring out exact portions.
Tea Kegs
Kegs can be expensive depending on where you live but this isn’t necessarily true when ordering online. A keg from Kegerator Direct costs around $200-$300 while others start at just over $100. If you want to try brewing your own beer at home, you’ll need to invest in equipment like a CO2 tank ($50-$ 80), regulator, and hose adapter. The total investment will likely range between $150 – $400.
Once everything arrives, you’ll only need to fill the kegs with tap water. Then, you attach an airlock filled with sanitizer solution and wait anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months before drinking.
Kids’ Toys
Toys aren’t always cheap, but kids toys subscriptions help parents save money by providing new toys regularly. Parents don’t have to worry about buying toys anymore since they get sent to them automatically. There are many toy subscription services available today ranging from educational games to action figures.
Baby products
Baby product delivery boxes provide moms with all sorts of baby essentials including diapers, wipes, lotions, creams, blankets, clothing, strollers, car seats, crib sheets, and even furniture. These items are shipped directly to customer homes each month and typically arrive within two days after placing an order.
Baking Supplies
Bakers love baking goods such as flour, sugar, eggs, butter, milk, etc., but most people find themselves running low on supplies throughout the year. Fortunately, some bakeries offer regular shipments of baking staples which makes life easier for bakers everywhere.
Grooming
Grooming is one area that’s often overlooked when thinking about subscription businesses. However, there are plenty of options for grooming lovers looking to cut down on their monthly expenses. For example, dog groomers send dogs back once a week so clients never have to leave their house again. Other services include manicures, pedicures, waxing, haircuts, facials, massages, and other spa treatments.
Sports
Sports fans know what it feels like to spend thousands of dollars on tickets every season. Luckily, sports teams now offer fan-friendly subscription plans that make watching games more affordable. Fans receive access to exclusive content, discounts, giveaways, and VIP experiences through various membership levels.
Jewelry
Jewelry enthusiasts can subscribe to jewelry brands in exchange for free samples, coupons, and special offers. Companies like Gemvara, Blue Nile, and Pandora also give away custom pieces to subscribers who purchase certain amounts of merchandise.
Chocolate and Candy
Chocolate and candy connoisseurs will appreciate receiving chocolate bars, candies, truffles, gourmet chocolates, and other treats at no extra charge. Many companies ship out small portions of sweets several times a month. Others send larger quantities only once a quarter or half yearly.
Children’s books
Children’s book aficionados can sign up for children’s literature subscriptions from major publishers. Popular titles include Dr. Seuss classics, fairy tales, picture books, chapter books, nonfiction, poetry collections, and many more.
Music
Music lovers can choose between streaming music platforms, physical CDs/vinyls, cassettes, DVDs, and MP3 downloads. Subscriptions start around $10 per month depending on your needs.
Movies
Movies are another popular category among movie buffs. Moviegoers can opt for DVD rentals, BluRay discs, digital download codes, and gift cards. Some services allow customers to watch movies online while others require users to physically pick them up at local stores.
Novels
Novelists can create a steady stream of income by offering eBooks, audiobooks, print copies, and even signed editions of their work. The best part? They don’t need any experience writing before they get started!
Fresh Herb Subscriptions
Herb gardeners can grow fresh herbs year round with the help of herb delivery boxes. These kits contain everything you’ll need to plant, care for, harvest, dry, cure, and use herbs including seeds, soil, fertilizer, pots, tools, labels, instructions, and much more.
Healthy Snack Subscription Box
Healthy snack lovers can try new foods each month with healthy snacks shipped directly to their doorstep.
Fresh Mushroom Delivery
Fresh mushroom growers can sell mushrooms right off their own farms via an easy-to-use website. Customers pay monthly based on how often they’d like to be sent product.
Fabric and fabric subscriptions
Fabric enthusiasts can shop for fabrics, patterns, sewing supplies, notions, and accessories all in one place using websites such as SewSubscribed, FabricsDirect, and Spoonflower.
Hangover supplement
Hangover sufferers can receive hangover supplements that promise relief within minutes. Supplements come in pill form or liquid drops that dissolve under the tongue.
Subscriptions for cannabis accessories
Medical marijuana patients can subscribe to various products designed specifically for their unique medical conditions. For example, some people may want to purchase vaporizers, tinctures, edibles, topicals, CBD oil, etc.
Planning and Stationery Boxes
Planning and stationery fans can order planners, agendas, notebooks, journals, pens, pencils, highlighters, sticky notes, post it notes, notepads, calendars, stickers, address books, binders, folders, and other office supplies through subscription sites.
Pickling Box
Pickle lovers can buy vinegar, salt, spices, sugar, oils, and other ingredients needed to make homemade pickles. Then, they just have to wait for someone else to send them the jars every few weeks.
Pie Subscription
Pies are delicious treats that everyone loves but most people aren’t great cooks. That’s why pie makers can offer pre-made pies to subscribers who will then take home the finished goods.
Jams, Preserves, and Honey
Canner lovers can sign up for jam making classes where they learn about preserving food. After class is over, students simply have to wait for their instructor to ship out the preserves.
Gardening Box
Gardeners can choose between different gardening plans depending on what type of plants they’re interested in growing. Some options include vegetables, flowers, houseplants, trees, shrubs, vines, ferns, succulents, cacti, bulbs, annuals, perennials, grasses, mosses, algae, fungi, and many others.
Flowers
Flower lovers can get a bouquet delivered straight to their door once per week. The service costs $25-$40 per month plus shipping fees.
Deodorant Subscription
Deodorant addicts can enjoy deodorant samples from brands like Dove, Secret, Axe, Tom Ford, L’Oreal Paris, Clinique, Origins, Nivea, Ponds, and Johnson & Johnson. Each sample comes in its original packaging so customers don’t even have to worry about wasting any space in their bathroom cabinets.
Soap Subscription
Soap nuts can use soap samples to test new recipes without having to spend money buying bars of soap. They also save time by skipping the step of washing dishes after each meal.
Mystery and Puzzle Subscriptions
Mystery and puzzle enthusiasts can try out games such as Sudoku, crosswords, word searches, Scrabble, jigsaw puzzles, Rubik’s cubes, memory games, mazes, maze games, logic puzzles, brain teasers, and much more.
Socks and Underwear
Sock and underwear aficionados can receive free pairs of socks or boxer briefs every month. All you need to do is fill out an application online before receiving your first shipment.
T-Shirts
T-shirt collectors can subscribe to shirts from popular designers including American Apparel, Ann Taylor Loft, Banana Republic Factory Store, Calvin Klein, Champion, Columbia Sportswear Company, Dockers, Gap Inc., Hanesbrands, Hollister Co., Icebreaker, Lacoste, Levi Strauss & Co., Nike, Old Navy, Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation, Tommy Hilfiger Corp., Vans Shoes, Wrangler, and Zumiez.
Milk Subscriptions
Milk drinkers can opt for milk subscriptions ranging anywhere from one pint to five gallons at a time. You’ll be able to select which kind of milk, flavor, and container size you want shipped directly to your doorstep.
National Parks Subscription Box
If you love nature, you might consider subscribing to National Park Service boxes filled with everything from seeds to birdhouses. These subscription services range from $10-$50 per box.
Knitting, Crochet, and Cross-Stitch Boxes
Subscribers who are into knitting, crochet, and/or cross-stitching will find that these hobbies come together nicely when combined with other activities. For example, knitters can make scarves while crocheting blankets; crocheters can work on sweaters while knitting hats; and cross-stitchers can create needlepoint pillows while working on embroidery projects.
