Local catering and restaurant supply shop
Run a small store stocking kitchen equipment and supplies for local restaurants, caterers and home cooks.
- $25k-100k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
5,296 US businesses with employees in this field, +18.1% in a year
NAICS 423850 “Service establishment equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
A small shop or warehouse-style showroom selling smallwares, pans, utensils, food storage, disposables and light equipment. Customers can walk in, pick up same day and ask for advice.
Your first three steps
- Visit local restaurants and caterers to learn what they struggle to buy locally and what they would switch for
- Open wholesale accounts with a few distributors and get your state resale certificate
- Find a low-rent unit in a light industrial or strip-mall area and check zoning and lease terms before signing
Who pays
Local restaurants, caterers, food trucks, bakeries, schools and churches, plus home cooks and event hosts.
How it makes money
Markup on products sold, with trade accounts for regular business customers and extras like knife sharpening, delivery or custom orders.
Skills that help
- Retail and customer service
- Inventory and purchasing
- Knowledge of commercial kitchen products
- Basic bookkeeping
Watch out for
- Check city or county business license and zoning rules for retail use, plus a certificate of occupancy
- Sales tax registration with your state, and handling tax-exempt resale customers correctly
- Large chains and online sellers compete on price, so local service and same-day pickup matter
- Inventory ties up cash, so start with fast-moving items
- General liability, property insurance and workers' compensation once you hire
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: local catering and restaurant supply shop
Researched with live web search for United States: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to open a catering and restaurant supply shop?
Startup costs are typically around $25,000 to $100,000, depending on your premises, opening stock and fit-out. These are estimates. Inventory ties up cash, so starting with fast-moving items can help keep costs down.
How much can a restaurant supply shop earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on your location, product range and how many local restaurants, caterers and home cooks you attract. These are estimates, and the shop assumes at least about 40 hours a week.
What licenses and rules should I check for a supply shop?
Check your city or county business license and zoning rules for retail use, plus a certificate of occupancy. Register for sales tax with your state and check how to handle tax-exempt resale customers. Also review general liability and property insurance.
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