Home-Based leather goods wholesaler for boutiques

Independent boutiques, gift shops, western wear stores, souvenir shops and small online retailers that buy for resale.

You buy at a wholesale price and sell at a higher wholesale price with minimum order amounts. Repeat orders from retailers each season are what build steady income.

• Sales and following up with buyers
• Organizing inventory and orders
• Judging leather quality and product trends
• Basic bookkeeping

• Check your state's rules on seller's permits and collecting resale certificates from buyers, so you do not charge or owe sales tax incorrectly
• If you import, check customs duties, import rules and shipping times with a customs broker
• Check FTC guidance on how you may describe products as leather, genuine leather or similar, and any state product warning rules such as in California
• Check HOA, lease or home occupation rules before storing stock and shipping from home
• Stock you cannot sell ties up your cash, so start small and order in small batches
• Check general liability and product liability insurance, and cover for inventory at home

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $2,000 to $10,000, depending mainly on how much stock you buy, plus shipping supplies and insurance. Starting small and ordering in small batches helps limit cash tied up in unsold stock.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on how many retailers you sell to, your order sizes and your product range. The estimate assumes at least about 10 hours a week.

Check your state's seller's permit and resale certificate rules, FTC guidance on describing products as leather, and any state product warning rules. If you import, check customs duties and import rules. Also check insurance and HOA, lease or home occupation rules.