Wholesale importer with a small warehouse

Retailers, hardware and gift shops, hospitality businesses, trade customers and online sellers who buy in bulk.

You sell cartons or pallets at wholesale prices, with repeat orders from regular accounts. Lower unit costs on bigger shipments improve your margin.

• Sales and relationship building
• Cash flow and inventory planning
• Handling freight and supplier paperwork

• Check Australian Border Force rules on duties, prohibited and restricted goods, and import declarations for your product
• Check ACCC mandatory safety standards, labelling and Australian Consumer Law obligations for what you sell
• Check biosecurity requirements for your goods and packaging
• Large upfront stock purchases can strain cash if goods sell slowly
• Check your insurance cover: public liability, product liability, and stock in transit and storage
• Workers compensation insurance once you hire staff, and warehouse safety
• Check whether your premises is zoned for warehouse use with the local council

Startup costs are typically around $30,000 to $150,000, depending on how much stock you buy, the warehouse or storage unit you rent and your freight costs. These are estimates, so plan a cash buffer in case stock sells slowly.

Monthly revenue is typically around $15,000 to $70,000, depending on your product range, order volumes and how many retail or trade buyers you supply. This is an estimate of revenue before costs, not profit.

Check Australian Border Force rules on duties, prohibited and restricted goods and import declarations. Also check ACCC mandatory safety standards, labelling, Australian Consumer Law, biosecurity requirements, insurance cover and whether your premises is zoned for warehouse use.