Online supplier to salons and therapists
Buy professional beauty products in bulk and sell them to local salons and mobile therapists through a simple trade website.
- £1.5k-8k
- Side hustle
- From home
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
8,575 UK companies in this field, 46% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 46450 “Wholesale of perfume and cosmetics”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A small wholesale business that buys nails, skincare, lash, tanning or hair products from brands or distributors and resells them to beauty professionals, stored at home and posted out.
Your first three steps
- Pick a niche such as nails or skincare and talk to local salon owners about what they struggle to source
- Open trade accounts with two or three brands or distributors and compare minimum orders and prices
- Set up a simple trade-only online shop and offer a first-order discount to ten local salons
Who pays
Independent salons, mobile beauty therapists, nail technicians, lash artists and small spas.
How it makes money
You earn the margin between your trade buying price and your trade selling price, plus repeat orders and bundles for regular customers.
Skills that help
- Spotting products professionals want
- Negotiating with suppliers
- Stock and order tracking
- Building trade relationships
Watch out for
- Cosmetic products sold in the UK have specific safety and labelling rules, so check the requirements with Trading Standards or the OPSS before importing or relabelling anything
- Some brands restrict who can resell them, so check your supplier agreement
- Tying up cash in stock that does not sell or has a short shelf life
- Goods insurance and product liability insurance, check with a broker
- Check whether you are allowed to store stock at home with your landlord or lender
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: online supplier to salons and therapists
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a beauty product supply business?
Startup costs are estimated at typically around £1,500 to £8,000, depending on how much stock you buy, your website and any insurance. Stock is the biggest outlay, and unsold or short-dated products can tie up cash.
How much can an online beauty trade supplier earn?
Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around £800 to £4,000, depending on your product range, supplier terms and how many salons and therapists you win. The estimate assumes at least about 8 hours a week.
What rules should I check before selling beauty products to salons?
Check the safety and labelling rules for cosmetics sold in the UK with Trading Standards or the OPSS before importing or relabelling anything. Also check your supplier agreement for resale limits, goods and product liability insurance, and home storage permissions.
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