Refurbished lab equipment reseller

Start-up companies, university groups, colleges, schools and small commercial labs that want good equipment on a tighter budget.

You earn the gap between purchase and resale price, plus extra for testing, calibration help, delivery and any warranty you offer.

• Knowledge of lab equipment or willingness to learn it
• Practical testing and basic repair
• Negotiating and sourcing

• Electrical safety testing and records for items you resell
• Possible WEEE and waste rules for electrical equipment; check what applies to you
• Contamination risk, so make sure used equipment is decontaminated and documented
• Product liability and stock insurance
• Tying up cash in stock that sells slowly
• Check lease and planning terms before renting a unit

Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £35,000, depending on how much stock you buy and whether you rent a unit or workshop. Stock that sells slowly can tie up cash, so plan your budget with that in mind.

Monthly revenue is typically around £3,000 to £14,000, depending on the stock you source, the prices you achieve and how quickly it sells. These are revenue estimates, not profit, so stock, premises and insurance costs come out of that.

Check electrical safety testing and records for items you resell, and whether WEEE and waste rules apply to you. Also check decontamination and documentation of used kit, product liability and stock insurance, and your lease and planning terms before renting a unit.