Air con trade counter and stockist

Air con installers, refrigeration and heating engineers, facilities teams and small contractors who need parts quickly.

You buy in bulk at trade prices and sell at a margin, with account customers ordering repeatedly. Fast availability and local delivery let you compete with larger distributors.

• Technical knowledge of air con products
• Stock control and buying
• Sales and account management
• Managing a small team or counter staff

• Rules on selling refrigerant gases and some equipment, as F-gas rules may restrict sales to certified buyers, so check requirements before stocking
• Cash tied up in stock and slow-paying trade accounts
• Public liability, stock, buildings and employer's liability insurance once you hire
• Planning and lease terms for a trade or warehouse unit, so check with the council and landlord
• Competition from large national distributors on price

Startup costs are typically around £25,000 to £100,000, depending on unit size, how much stock you carry and how you fit out the counter. Treat this as an estimate and get quotes for your own unit and stock range.

Monthly revenue is typically around £15,000 to £75,000, depending on your stock range, location and how many trade accounts you build. This is revenue rather than profit, and competition from large distributors on price can affect margins.

Check F-gas rules, which may restrict sales of refrigerant gases and some equipment to certified buyers. Also check planning and lease terms with the council and landlord, and the insurance you need, including employer's liability if you hire.