Home-based glassware supplier for small shops and cafes

Independent gift and home shops, cafes, small restaurants and bars, caterers, event rental companies and boutique hotels or rentals.

You buy at a wholesale or import price and sell at a markup, usually with minimum order sizes. Repeat orders from a handful of regular accounts matter more than one-off sales.

• Sales and building relationships with buyers
• Organizing stock and orders
• Comparing supplier prices and negotiating
• Basic bookkeeping

• Breakage in transit: check packaging costs and insurance, and agree who pays for damaged goods
• Sales tax: check with your state about a seller's permit and how to collect resale certificates from business buyers
• If you import, check customs rules and food-contact safety requirements for glassware, including any state rules such as lead or chemical limits
• General liability and product liability insurance
• Home storage: check HOA, lease or home occupation rules, and watch the weight of stock on shelves and floors
• Cash tied up in stock and slow-paying business customers

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how much stock you buy and whether suppliers ship direct to customers. Cash tied up in stock and slow-paying business customers are worth planning for.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on your customer base, product range and the time you put in. Selling to cafes, gift shops and event businesses can take time to build.

Check packaging costs, insurance for breakage in transit, and your state's seller's permit and resale certificate rules. Also review general and product liability insurance, HOA, lease or home occupation rules, and customs and food-contact safety requirements if you import.