Home-Based warehouse equipment reseller

Small warehouses, factories, workshops, farms, distributors and logistics firms that need to equip or replace handling equipment.

You buy at trade price and sell at a margin on each order. Larger jobs such as racking layouts or conveyor lines bring bigger orders, and repeat customers reorder.

• Confident selling to businesses
• Reading a customer's needs and specifications
• Organised with quotes and orders
• Following up politely and persistently

• Public liability and product liability insurance, check what cover suppliers expect from dealers
• Lifting equipment and racking can fall under workplace safety rules, so check what advice and inspection information you must pass on to customers
• Agree who handles warranty, returns and damaged deliveries with each supplier in writing
• Check product marking and compliance for any imported equipment
• Large orders can tie up cash, so check supplier payment terms before offering credit to customers
• Check whether your landlord or mortgage lender allows you to run a business from home

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on insurance, a simple website or brochures and any samples you need. Because the supplier ships direct, you hold little or no stock.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around £2,000 to £10,000, depending on the products you sell, the size of orders and how many business customers you win. This is revenue, not profit, so supplier costs come out of it.

Check what safety advice and inspection information you must pass on for lifting equipment and racking. Also check supplier warranty and returns terms, product marking for imported kit, insurance expectations, and whether your landlord or lender allows a home business.