Local auto body parts sourcing and delivery

Independent body shops, small collision repairers, mobile dent and paint repairers, and sometimes fleet operators.

You buy at trade price and sell with a markup per part, plus a delivery fee on small orders. Repeat orders from a handful of shops make up most of the income.

• Knowing vehicle parts and fitment
• Sales and building trade relationships
• Organizing orders and deliveries
• Reliable driving

• Check your state's rules on a reseller or sales tax permit, and how resale certificates work with your shop customers
• Check whether your city or county requires a business license, and whether any dealer or dismantler license applies if you handle used or salvage parts
• General liability and commercial auto insurance, and check what covers parts in your vehicle
• Wrong or damaged parts: agree return and restocking terms with suppliers before promising customers
• Shops may pay on 30-day terms, so plan your cash flow
• Some insurers push shops toward specific parts programs, so check what shops are allowed to use

Startup costs are typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on your vehicle, supplier accounts and insurance. Most parts are ordered per job rather than held in stock. These figures are estimates, not guarantees.

Monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how many shops you serve and how many jobs you supply. Shops may pay on 30-day terms, so plan for cash flow. Expect at least about 15 hours a week.

Check your state's reseller or sales tax permit and how resale certificates work with shop customers. Check whether your city or county requires a business license, and whether any dealer or dismantler license applies to used or salvage parts. Review general liability and commercial auto insurance.