Home-Based cabinet dealer and designer

Homeowners remodeling a kitchen, bathroom or garage, plus small contractors, flippers and landlords who want a reliable cabinet source.

You buy at a dealer price and sell at a markup, and you can add a design fee or an installation coordination fee. Repeat trade customers can bring in steady orders.

• Reading measurements and floor plans
• Kitchen layout and design software
• Sales and quoting
• Organizing orders and deliveries

• Check your state's sales tax registration and resale certificate rules for buying at dealer prices
• Check whether your state or county requires a contractor license if you offer installation, or use licensed installers
• General liability insurance, and whether you need extra cover if you subcontract installation
• Home occupation permit, HOA or lease rules if customers or deliveries come to your home
• Measuring errors and damaged deliveries can be expensive, so confirm return and damage policies with suppliers
• Deposits and payment terms: avoid fronting large orders from your own pocket

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $1,500 to $6,000, depending on your design software, samples, dealer account requirements and home office setup. Avoid fronting large orders from your own pocket by agreeing deposits and payment terms.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how many kitchen, bath and storage jobs you win and the size of each order. These are estimates, and measuring errors or damaged deliveries can cut into results.

Check your state's sales tax registration and resale certificate rules, and whether your state or county requires a contractor license if you offer installation. Also check insurance, plus home occupation permit, HOA or lease rules if customers or deliveries come to your home.