Online industrial tools reseller

Small machine shops, fabrication workshops, contractors and maintenance teams that want a simple way to reorder.

You earn the margin between the wholesale price and your selling price, plus any shipping fees. Repeat orders from the same shops add up over time.

• Knowing industrial tools and their uses
• Online selling and basic website management
• Customer service and follow-up
• Negotiating with suppliers

• Check your state's sales tax registration rules and resale certificate requirements
• Thin margins: compare distributor prices carefully before committing to a niche
• Product liability and general liability insurance, especially for tools or safety gear
• Returns and shipping damage on heavy items; check who pays in your distributor agreement
• Check with your city or county whether a home occupation permit is needed if you run it from home

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your website setup, the niche you choose and any samples or marketing you pay for. Orders ship from distributors, so you may not need to hold much stock.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $500 to $4,000, depending on your niche, pricing and how many repeat workshop customers you win. Margins can be thin, so compare distributor prices carefully. Expect about 10 or more hours a week.

Check your state's sales tax registration and resale certificate requirements. Also check product liability and general liability insurance, who pays for returns and shipping damage in your distributor agreement, and whether a home occupation permit is needed if you work from home.