Trade thread supplier for makers and workshops

Small clothing makers, upholsterers, alteration and repair shops, bag and soft furnishing makers, and craft shops that resell thread.

You buy in bulk from manufacturers or wholesalers and sell at a trade margin, with regular reorders from business customers.

• Knowing industrial thread types and sizes
• Selling to businesses
• Stock control
• Reliable delivery and invoicing

• Register as a sole trader or limited company and check when VAT registration applies
• Public liability and stock insurance are worth checking, along with goods in transit cover
• Check whether your storage space is allowed under your lease, planning rules or home insurance
• Offering credit to business customers carries a risk of late payment
• Large minimum orders from suppliers can tie up your cash
• Customers may stay loyal to established suppliers, so you may need to win them over with service

Startup costs are typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on how much stock you hold and your storage space. Large minimum orders from suppliers can tie up your cash, so check these before committing.

Monthly revenue is typically around £1,500 to £7,500, depending on your customer base and order sizes. That is revenue, not profit, and offering credit to business customers carries a risk of late payment.

Check whether to register as a sole trader or limited company and when VAT registration applies. Also check public liability, stock and goods in transit insurance, and whether your storage space is allowed under your lease, planning rules or home insurance.