Home-Based small appliance wholesaler

Independent retailers, discount and variety stores, online marketplace sellers, property managers and hospitality or office buyers who need appliances in volume.

You earn the margin between your bulk purchase price and your wholesale price, usually per case or per pallet. Repeat orders from a handful of steady buyers matter more than one-off deals.

• Negotiating with suppliers and buyers
• Spotting good deals and judging product quality
• Organizing stock, orders and shipping
• Basic bookkeeping and cash flow tracking

• Check your state's rules on seller's permits, resale certificates and wholesale or business licenses
• Check your lease or HOA rules on storing inventory at home and receiving freight
• Check that products are properly certified (such as UL or ETL listed) and that they meet federal energy rules for their category
• Beware counterfeit, gray-market or returned units with no warranty, and verify where the stock really comes from
• Many brands only sell to authorized dealers, so confirm you are allowed to resell a product line
• Stock ties up cash. Don't buy more than you have buyers for
• Get general liability and product liability insurance

Estimates typically put startup costs around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on how much stock you buy, any storage space and insurance. Stock ties up cash, so avoid buying more than you have buyers for.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on your products, margins and number of trade buyers. The estimate assumes at least about 10 hours a week.

Check your state's rules on seller's permits, resale certificates and wholesale licenses. Also check that products are properly certified (such as UL or ETL), meet federal energy rules, and that you may resell each brand. Check lease or HOA terms too.