Trade wax supplier from a small unit

Candle and cosmetics makers, car valeting and detailing businesses, furniture restorers, craft workshops and some consumers.

You buy by the pallet and sell by the sack, box or tub at a trade margin. Regular repeat orders from makers and workshops are the core of the income.

• Buying and negotiating with suppliers
• Stock control and basic bookkeeping
• Selling to trade customers
• Safe handling and lifting

• Check fire risk, storage rules and insurance for the unit, as wax is flammable when heated
• Public liability, product liability and stock insurance
• Check labelling and safety data sheet duties with Trading Standards, especially for blends or scented products
• Large stock orders tie up cash, so start with a small range
• Check whether your lease allows storage and trade deliveries
• VAT registration becomes compulsory above the turnover threshold

Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £30,000, depending on the unit you rent, how much bulk stock you buy and your packing equipment. These are estimates, and starting with a small range can help limit cash tied up in stock.

Monthly revenue is typically around £4,000 to £16,000, depending on your range, how many trade customers you win and how often they reorder. This is revenue, not profit, so work out your margins after stock and unit costs.

Check fire risk, storage rules and insurance for the unit, as wax is flammable when heated. Also check labelling and safety data sheet duties with Trading Standards, what your lease allows, and VAT registration once turnover passes the threshold.