Furnace parts supplier with a stocked unit

Maintenance contractors, manufacturers, food producers, workshops and facilities teams that cannot wait days for a part.

Mark-up on parts held in stock, with a premium for speed and availability. Trade accounts, repeat orders and supply contracts bring steadier income.

• Technical knowledge of furnace and burner equipment
• Stock control and purchasing
• Sales and account management
• Handling packing and deliveries

• Stock can tie up a lot of cash and slow-moving parts may not sell, so start small
• Public liability, product liability and stock insurance: check cover with a broker
• Check parts meet UK safety and marking requirements and that you can trace where they came from
• Check business rates, planning use class and lease terms for your unit
• Credit terms to business customers can lead to late payment, so check customers and agree terms up front
• Employer's liability insurance is needed once you hire staff

Startup costs are typically around £15,000 to £60,000, depending on your unit and how much stock you buy. Stock can tie up a lot of cash, so starting small may help. Treat this as an estimate.

Monthly revenue is typically around £8,000 to £35,000, depending on your stock range, your customers and how quickly parts sell. The estimate starts from about 35 hours a week. It is an estimate, not a guarantee.

Check public liability, product liability and stock insurance with a broker, and that parts meet UK safety and marking requirements and can be traced to source. Also check business rates, planning use class and lease terms, and employer's liability insurance once you hire staff.