Local hospitality supply store and delivery service
Stock a small warehouse or showroom with linens, toiletries and equipment, and deliver to hotels and restaurants in your area.
- $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 unit with stock on shelves, a counter for walk-in buyers and a van or truck for local deliveries. You carry the items nearby hospitality businesses need quickly, like towels, bedding, amenities, glassware and small kitchen equipment.
Your first three steps
- Visit local hotels and restaurants to learn what they buy, what they pay and what delays or stockouts frustrate them
- Get quotes on a small unit with loading access, and open wholesale accounts with several suppliers
- Form an LLC, get your EIN, and start with a limited core range plus a few pre-agreed customers
Who pays
Local hotels, motels, restaurants, cafes, caterers and event venues that need fast restocking without waiting on national distributors.
How it makes money
Markup on products sold, with standing orders, account customers on invoice terms and a delivery fee or minimum order for local drop-offs.
Skills that help
- Sales and account management
- Inventory and ordering
- Driving and basic lifting
- Customer service
Watch out for
- Check city or county zoning and your local business license requirements for a retail or warehouse unit
- Check state sales tax registration and how resale certificates work for your customers
- General liability, commercial auto and property insurance are worth checking, and workers' compensation once you hire
- Tied-up cash in stock and slow-paying account customers, so set clear payment terms
- Larger distributors may undercut you on price, so compete on speed and service
- Lease terms and personal guarantees on commercial leases
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: local hospitality supply store and delivery
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 hospitality supply store?
Startup costs are typically around $25,000 to $100,000, depending on premises, stock levels and your delivery vehicle. These are estimates, and cash tied up in stock is worth planning for carefully before you commit to a lease.
How much can a local hospitality supply store earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on your account base, stock range and how quickly you serve customers. These are estimates, and the business typically needs at least 35 hours a week.
What licenses and rules apply to a hospitality supply store?
Check city or county zoning and local business license requirements for a retail or warehouse unit, plus state sales tax registration and resale certificate rules. Also check insurance such as general liability and commercial auto, and your lease terms.
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Photo: Positive_Images on Pixabay