Online cleaning equipment supplier

Small cleaning companies, caretakers, facilities managers, schools, care homes and small offices.

You buy at trade prices and sell at a mark-up. Repeat orders, bundles and delivery charges add to the margin.

• Knowing which cleaning kit suits which job
• Online selling and basic website upkeep
• Supplier negotiation and order tracking
• Customer service

• Consumer and business sales rules on returns, delivery and product descriptions, so check what applies to your customers
• Product liability and public liability insurance, which are worth checking before selling electrical machines
• Electrical goods and chemical products can have safety and labelling rules, so check with the supplier and Trading Standards
• Thin margins on commodity items, so work out your costs including shipping and returns
• VAT registration once your turnover passes the threshold

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £500 to £4,000, depending on your website and supplier arrangements. Many start by dropshipping or ordering from wholesalers as customers buy, which keeps stock costs low.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around £500 to £5,000, depending on your range and customers. Margins on commodity items can be thin, so work out your costs including shipping and returns.

Check the consumer and business sales rules on returns, delivery and product descriptions. Also check product and public liability insurance before selling electrical machines, safety and labelling rules for chemicals with Trading Standards, and VAT registration once turnover passes the threshold.