Local hospitality supplier with a delivery van
Stock linens, toiletries and kit in a small unit and deliver to hotels, pubs and restaurants in your area.
- £5k-25k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
6,931 UK companies in this field, 40% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 46499 “Wholesale of household goods (other than musical instruments) n.e.c.”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A small trade supplier holding popular items such as towels, sheets, toiletries, glassware and cleaning consumables, and delivering regularly to local hospitality businesses. You may also offer a trade counter.
Your first three steps
- Visit local hotels, pubs and restaurants to learn what they buy, how often and what they pay now
- Open trade accounts with a few wholesalers and cost a starter stock of fast-moving items
- Find a small unit or secure storage space, then offer a few local customers a trial order with free delivery
Who pays
Hotels, pubs with rooms, restaurants, cafes, care homes and holiday let managers who want fast local delivery and no big minimum orders.
How it makes money
Margin on goods bought in bulk from wholesalers, plus regular repeat orders and delivery or account-based pricing for larger customers.
Skills that help
- Sales and relationship building
- Stock control and ordering
- Driving and route planning
Watch out for
- Public liability and goods in transit insurance, plus cover for stock and your vehicle
- Cash flow, as hospitality customers may ask for 30 day payment terms while you pay suppliers sooner
- Check product safety, labelling and fire safety rules for linens and toiletries you sell
- Check lease terms, business rates and planning use for any unit or trade counter
- Large chains and online wholesalers compete on price, so a clear local service edge matters
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: local hospitality supplier with a delivery van
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 hospitality supplies business?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around £5,000 to £25,000, depending on your stock, unit and vehicle. Cash flow matters too, as customers may ask for 30 day payment terms while you pay your suppliers sooner.
How much can a local hospitality supplier earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £2,000 to £10,000, depending on your customers, product range and delivery area. Large chains and online wholesalers compete on price, so a clear local service edge matters.
What insurance and rules apply to a hospitality supplies business?
Check public liability and goods in transit insurance, plus cover for stock and your vehicle. Also check product safety, labelling and fire safety rules for linens and toiletries, and lease terms, business rates and planning use for any unit.
Other ways to run this business
Similar retail ideas
Second-hand bookshop on the high street
Open a small shop selling pre-owned books and buying stock from local people.
- £5k-25k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Used and refurbished bakery equipment
Buy, refurbish and sell or hire second-hand ovens and mixers to bakeries on a tighter budget.
- £5k-25k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Consignment shop on your high street
Rent a small shop and sell other people's quality second-hand items, keeping a share of each sale.
- £5k-25k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Flag shop with a small unit
Open a local shop for flags, poles and bunting, serving walk-in and business customers.
- £5k-25k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Vintage clothes shop on the high street
Open a small shop with a curated range of vintage clothing and accessories for local and passing trade.
- £5k-25k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Second-hand clothes shop
Open a small shop selling pre-owned everyday clothing to shoppers who want good value.
- £5k-25k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Photo: Positive_Images on Pixabay