Mobile pipe and fittings supplier
Stock a van with common pipes and fittings and deliver to local plumbers and builders on site.
- £5k-20k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
What it is
A van-based trade supplier carrying popular copper, plastic and waste pipe, plus fittings, delivering to tradespeople so they don't have to leave the job to visit a merchant.
Your first three steps
- Ask local plumbers and builders which items they run out of most, then list your core stock
- Open trade accounts with two or three wholesalers and compare prices and minimum orders
- Visit local sites and merchants' customers with a simple price list and offer a first free delivery
Who pays
Self-employed plumbers, heating engineers, small builders and contractors who value time saved over the cheapest price.
How it makes money
You buy from wholesalers or manufacturers and sell at a mark-up, often with a delivery or convenience premium and regular trade accounts.
Skills that help
- Knowing pipe types, sizes and fittings
- Building trade relationships
- Stock control and route planning
Watch out for
- Public liability, goods in transit and motor trade or business-use van insurance
- Water fittings generally need to meet UK approval standards, check what applies to what you sell
- Cash tied up in stock and late-paying trade customers, think carefully before offering credit
- Check how any waste, offcuts or returns are handled and whether any registration applies
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: mobile pipe and fittings supplier
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 mobile pipe supply business?
Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £5,000 to £20,000, depending on the van, how much pipe and fittings stock you carry, and insurance. Stock and customer credit can tie up cash.
How much can a mobile pipe and fittings supplier earn?
Estimated monthly revenue is typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on your customer base, stock range and how many hours you work. Late-paying trade customers can affect cash flow, so think before offering credit.
What rules should I check before supplying pipes and fittings?
Things to check: public liability, goods in transit and business-use van insurance; whether water fittings you sell meet UK approval standards; and how waste, offcuts or returns are handled and whether any registration applies.
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