Online truck parts supplier (no stock)

Small haulage firms, owner-drivers, independent truck repair garages and mobile mechanics who want one reliable contact for hard-to-find parts.

You buy at trade price and sell with a margin on each part. Repeat orders from regular fleet accounts and garages build steady monthly sales, and you can add delivery or urgent-sourcing fees.

• Knowledge of lorry parts and part numbers
• Sales and relationship building
• Organised order and supplier tracking
• Clear phone and email communication

• Check that parts are genuine or from reputable brands, and be wary of counterfeit or unbranded safety-critical parts
• Check your responsibilities on returns, warranties and product liability, and consider product liability insurance as well as public liability
• Wrong part orders can be costly, so agree a returns process with suppliers before you sell
• Check VAT registration rules as your sales grow
• If you offer credit terms to fleets, check customers' payment history to avoid unpaid invoices
• If you work from home, check your lease or mortgage terms and whether deliveries are allowed

Startup costs are estimates, typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on your website, phone and software set-up, insurance and supplier accounts. You hold little or no stock, so you are not buying a large range upfront.

Monthly revenue is an estimate, typically around £1,500 to £7,500, depending on your customer base, the parts you sell and your margins. If you offer credit terms to fleets, check customers' payment history to avoid unpaid invoices.

Check that parts are genuine or from reputable brands, and be wary of counterfeit or unbranded safety-critical parts. Also check your returns, warranty and product liability responsibilities, your insurance, and VAT registration rules as your sales grow.