Home-based glassware wholesaler

Cafes, restaurants, bars, gift and homewares shops, and event or function venues.

You buy at trade price and sell at a markup per carton or per set, with repeat orders from regular customers. Delivery fees can be added for larger orders.

• Negotiating with suppliers
• Sales and building trade relationships
• Stock tracking and organisation
• Careful packing of fragile goods

• Breakage: check your supplier's breakage policy and insure stock and transit
• Public liability and product liability insurance
• Council approval for a home-based business and for storing large amounts of stock, check with your local council
• GST registration once turnover reaches the threshold
• Cash flow tied up in stock, start with a small range and a few customers

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on your product range, how much stock you buy, storage needs and insurance. Starting with a small range and a few customers can help keep cash tied up in stock lower.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $6,000, depending on how many trade customers you win, your range and the size of their orders. That is revenue before stock, breakage and delivery costs.

Check your supplier's breakage policy and insure stock and transit. Check public liability and product liability insurance, council approval for a home-based business and storing large amounts of stock, and whether you need to register for GST once turnover reaches the threshold.