Small carpet warehouse with trade counter

Carpet fitters, independent flooring shops, builders, landlords and property maintenance firms buying for customer installations.

You buy rolls in bulk from mills and distributors and sell by the metre or roll at trade prices. Fast availability, cut-to-length service and delivery let you earn a margin on each sale.

• Sales and managing trade accounts
• Stock control and purchasing
• Safe handling of heavy rolls
• Basic bookkeeping and credit control

• Stock tied up in unsold rolls: start with a narrow range of fast-selling lines
• Customer credit risk: consider credit checks, account limits or trade credit insurance
• Check planning and permitted use for your unit, and business rates
• Insurance for stock, buildings or contents, public liability, goods in transit and employer's liability once you hire
• Manual handling and warehouse safety for heavy rolls: check health and safety requirements and fire risk
• Check labelling and product information rules with Trading Standards, and when VAT registration becomes compulsory

Startup costs are typically estimated at around £30,000 to £70,000, depending on the unit, how much stock you hold, racking and handling equipment, a delivery van and insurance.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £15,000 to £45,000, depending on your range, number of trade accounts and opening hours. The estimate starts from about 35 hours a week.

Check planning and permitted use for your unit, business rates, and insurance for stock, premises, goods in transit and employees. Check manual handling, health and safety and fire risk, customer credit risk, Trading Standards labelling rules, and when VAT registration becomes compulsory.