Local hygiene supplies delivery for small businesses

Small offices, restaurants, salons, gyms, daycares, property managers and cleaning companies in your area.

You sell at a markup over your bulk purchase price, usually through repeat weekly or monthly orders. Delivery and a personal service are what set you apart from big suppliers.

• Sales and relationship building
• Basic bookkeeping and pricing
• Organizing orders and deliveries

• Sales tax: check with your state about a seller's permit and a resale certificate so you do not pay tax on goods you resell
• General liability and commercial auto insurance, check whether your personal auto policy covers deliveries
• Thin margins on commodity items, so check prices carefully before agreeing to a deal
• Cash tied up in stock, and storage space and any HOA or lease limits if you keep inventory at home
• Some products, such as disinfectants, may have labeling or registration rules, check with the EPA and your state

Startup costs are typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how much stock you buy, any storage space you need and your insurance. These are estimates. Cash gets tied up in stock, so start with modest orders.

Monthly revenue is typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the number of business customers, order sizes and your pricing. These are estimates, and the idea assumes at least 15 hours a week. Margins on commodity items can be thin.

Check with your state about a seller's permit and resale certificate. Also check general liability and commercial auto insurance, including whether your personal policy covers deliveries, HOA or lease limits on home storage, and any EPA or state labeling or registration rules for disinfectants.