Home-Based leather goods wholesaler

Independent boutiques, gift shops, western wear stores, online sellers and craft makers who want to stock leather goods without making them.

You buy at wholesale or factory prices and sell at a higher wholesale price. Repeat orders from the same shops are where most revenue comes from.

• Spotting quality leather and stitching
• Negotiating with suppliers
• Basic bookkeeping and stock tracking

• Check your state's rules on sales tax and resale certificates, so you can buy stock tax-free for resale
• Check import duties and shipping times if buying from overseas
• Check federal labeling rules for terms like 'genuine leather', and any rules on exotic skins
• Tied-up cash: supplier minimum orders can mean buying stock before you have customers
• Check home occupation, HOA or lease rules if you store stock at home
• General liability and product liability insurance

Startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on supplier minimum orders, the stock you buy and storage needs. These are estimates, and cash can be tied up if you buy stock before you have customers.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the range you stock, your prices and how many boutiques and online sellers you supply. You could start with about 10 hours a week.

Check your state's sales tax and resale certificate rules, import duties and shipping times if buying overseas, and federal labeling rules for terms like 'genuine leather' and any rules on exotic skins. Also check home occupation, HOA or lease rules if you store stock at home.