Local paper supplier to printers and offices

Small commercial printers, schools, offices, signmakers, council suppliers and local stationery resellers.

You earn the margin between your bulk buying price and your selling price, with delivery charged separately or built into the price. Regular standing orders from repeat customers keep income steady.

• Negotiating with suppliers
• Organising stock and deliveries
• Sales and account management
• Basic bookkeeping and invoicing

• Public liability and goods in transit insurance
• Tight margins and cash flow, since you pay suppliers before customers pay you
• Paper is heavy, so check safe lifting and a vehicle with enough payload
• Check whether you need an ABN and GST registration, and any council rules for your storage unit
• Risk of damp or fire damage to stock, so check storage conditions and cover

Startup costs are typically around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on your stock, storage unit and vehicle. Monthly revenue is estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your customers and order volumes.

Check public liability and goods in transit insurance, whether you need an ABN and GST registration, and any council rules for your storage unit. Also check storage conditions and cover for damp or fire damage, and safe lifting and vehicle payload, as paper is heavy.

Estimates suggest at least around 15 hours a week. Margins are tight and cash flow needs care, since you pay suppliers before customers pay you. Useful skills include negotiating with suppliers, organising deliveries and basic bookkeeping.