Online cosmetics wholesaler for small shops

Independent beauty shops, salons, gift shops, pharmacies and market traders who want to stock products without buying from a large distributor.

You earn the margin between your bulk buying price and your trade price. Minimum order values and repeat orders from regular customers help keep this worthwhile.

• Negotiating with suppliers
• Stock and order tracking
• Selling to businesses
• Basic website and email skills

• Cosmetics sold in the UK must meet UK cosmetics regulations, so check that each product has a UK Responsible Person and proper labelling
• Check products are genuine and not grey-market or counterfeit stock
• Check storage rules, shelf life and expiry dates, and keep batch records for traceability
• Public liability and product liability insurance are worth checking before you sell
• Stock ties up cash, so avoid over-buying before you have regular customers

Startup costs are typically around £2,000 to £10,000, depending on how much stock you buy, how you build your trade website and which insurance you choose. Stock ties up cash, so avoid over-buying before you have regular customers.

Check that cosmetics meet UK cosmetics regulations, with a UK Responsible Person and proper labelling for each product. Also check stock is genuine and not grey-market or counterfeit, and check storage rules, expiry dates and batch records for traceability.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on your product range, your trade customers and how often they reorder. This is revenue, not profit, and the idea assumes at least around 10 hours a week.