Equipment importer with a stocked unit

Trade buyers such as installers, contractors, retailers and small businesses that need equipment quickly and do not want to import themselves.

Bulk buying lowers your cost per item. You sell at a margin, plus delivery charges and sometimes installation or aftercare. Money is tied up in stock, so sales speed matters.

• Stock and cash flow management
• Trade selling and relationship building
• Organising shipments and deliveries

• Unsold stock can tie up your savings, so start with small batches
• Check duty, import VAT and any product safety marking such as UKCA or CE before ordering
• Check the lease terms, business rates and whether your unit's permitted use covers storage and deliveries
• Public liability, product liability and stock insurance, plus employer's liability once you hire
• Heavy goods mean manual handling risks, so check safe lifting and storage
• Late or damaged shipments and currency changes can hit margins, so allow a buffer

Startup costs are typically estimated at around £15,000 to £70,000, depending on the equipment, batch sizes and unit. Unsold stock can tie up your savings, so starting with small batches is worth considering.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £8,000 to £40,000, depending on your product, customers and stock levels. Late or damaged shipments and currency changes can hit margins, so allow a buffer.

Check duty, import VAT and any product safety marking such as UKCA or CE before ordering. Also check your lease terms, business rates, whether your unit's permitted use covers storage and deliveries, insurance, and safe lifting for heavy goods.