Local drywall and plaster supply yard
Stock drywall, joint compound and plaster in a small warehouse and sell to local drywall crews and contractors.
- $120k-350k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
3,756 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.5% in a year
NAICS 423390 “Other construction material merchant wholesalers”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
A small warehouse or yard stocking drywall sheets, joint compound, tape, plaster, metal framing accessories and fasteners. You sell over the counter and deliver to job sites.
Your first three steps
- Talk to local drywall crews and contractors about what they buy, where they buy it and what frustrates them about current suppliers
- Contact manufacturers and regional distributors about dealer accounts, minimum orders and pricing
- Price out a small warehouse or yard with loading access and check zoning with your city or county
Who pays
Drywall and plastering crews, remodelers, general contractors and handy homeowners in your area.
How it makes money
You buy in bulk from manufacturers or distributors and sell at a markup. Delivery fees and contractor accounts bring repeat orders.
Skills that help
- Knowing drywall and plaster products
- Sales and relationship building
- Inventory and ordering
- Safe handling of heavy materials
Watch out for
- Opening inventory, lease deposit, a forklift and a delivery vehicle make up most of the startup cost, so get quotes before you commit
- Zoning and business license rules for a warehouse or yard, check with your city or county
- General liability, property and commercial auto insurance, plus workers' compensation once you hire
- Sales tax registration and handling resale certificates, check with your state's revenue department
- Forklift and lifting safety training for you and any staff, check OSHA requirements
- Drywall is heavy and ruined by moisture, so plan dry storage
- Contractors often want to buy on credit, so set credit terms and check your state's lien rules
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: local drywall and plaster supply yard
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 start a drywall supply yard?
Startup costs are estimated at typically around $120,000 to $350,000, depending on your opening inventory, lease deposit, forklift and delivery vehicle, which make up most of the cost. Get quotes before you commit.
How much can a drywall and plaster supply yard earn?
Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on your location, the contractors you win and what you stock. Contractors often want credit, so set terms and check your state's lien rules.
What rules should I check before opening a drywall supply yard?
Check zoning and business license rules for a warehouse or yard with your city or county, plus sales tax registration and resale certificates with your state. Also check OSHA requirements for forklift and lifting safety, and insurance including workers' compensation once you hire.
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