Niche wine importer using a bonded warehouse

Independent restaurants, wine bars, delis, bottle shops and hotels looking for something different from the big distributors.

You buy at the producer's price and sell on trade terms with a margin after shipping, duty, storage and delivery costs. Repeat orders from regular accounts matter most.

• Good palate and wine knowledge
• Selling and building trade relationships
• Organising shipping and paperwork
• Careful with cash flow and costs

• Wholesalers of alcohol generally need to be registered with HMRC under the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme, so check before you trade
• Excise duty and VAT rules on imports are complex, so check with HMRC or your freight and warehouse partner
• Check whether you need any licence for the way you sell and deliver, and ask your local council
• Cash is tied up in stock and duty, so plan how you will cover slow-paying customers
• Check product labelling rules for wine sold in the UK
• Public liability and goods-in-transit or stock insurance

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £15,000 to £60,000, depending on how much stock you buy and the duty and shipping involved. Cash is tied up in stock and duty, so plan how you will cover slow-paying customers.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on the wines you import and how many trade customers you win. Cash flow matters, as stock and duty are paid before you sell.

Check whether you need to register with HMRC under the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme before you trade. Also check excise duty and VAT rules on imports, any licence for how you sell and deliver by asking your local council, and wine labelling rules.