Local candy and snack wholesale route

Convenience stores, gas stations, gift shops, small grocers, cafes and bowling alleys or other venues with a counter.

You sell cases or packs to retailers at a markup over your buying price. Repeat weekly or biweekly orders from the same shops build steady income.

• Sales and relationship building
• Route planning and driving
• Inventory tracking and basic bookkeeping

• Check whether your state requires a wholesale or resale certificate and sales tax registration
• Some states and counties require a food warehouse or food wholesaler registration, check with your state agriculture or health department
• Storing food at home may not be allowed, check zoning, HOA or lease rules and storage requirements
• Check commercial auto and general liability insurance needs
• Thin margins and slow-paying stores: set clear payment terms and watch cash flow
• Big distributors may already supply many stores with deals, so find a niche such as specialty or imported candy

Startup costs are typically estimated around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your opening stock, storage space, vehicle needs, and any registrations. Starting with a small set of stores and a specialty niche can keep early spending lower.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how many stores you serve, order sizes, and your product mix. Margins can be thin and some stores pay slowly, so set clear payment terms.

Check whether your state requires a wholesale or resale certificate and sales tax registration, and whether food warehouse or wholesaler registration applies. Also check zoning, HOA or lease rules for storing food at home, plus commercial auto and general liability insurance.