Accessories wholesaler with a small warehouse

Phone repair shops, convenience and gift stores, kiosk and market vendors, and online sellers who prefer to buy locally.

Wholesale margin on bulk sales, with volume discounts for regular accounts and extra income from shipping or pickup of repeat orders.

• Buying and negotiating
• Inventory management
• Sales and account management
• Basic bookkeeping

• Business license and seller's permit: most states and many cities or counties require a local business license and a sales tax permit before you sell, so check with your state revenue department and city or county clerk
• Check zoning, any certificate of occupancy and your lease for wholesale and customer pickup use
• Resale certificate rules vary by state, confirm how to accept them from retail customers and keep copies on file
• Counterfeit goods and import issues, buy from verified suppliers
• Electrical products may need safety certification, check before stocking chargers and batteries
• General liability, property and product insurance, plus workers' compensation if you hire
• Rent and stock costs while sales are still building

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on the unit you rent, how wide a range you stock and how much inventory you buy upfront. Rent and stock costs continue while sales are still building.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on your customer base, product range and how much stock you carry. This is revenue, not profit, so rent, stock and other costs come out of it.

Check for a business license and seller's permit with your state revenue department and city or county clerk. Also check zoning, certificate of occupancy and your lease for wholesale use, how to accept resale certificates, and whether chargers and batteries need safety certification.