Leather wholesale warehouse for workshops

Upholsterers, bag, belt and footwear makers, saddlers, furniture and auto interior workshops, and small manufacturers.

You buy in larger volumes at lower prices and sell at trade margins. Regular account customers who order monthly give steadier income than one-off sales.

• Sourcing and negotiating with suppliers
• Sales to business customers
• Stock control and bookkeeping
• Lifting and handling heavy rolls and hides

• Large stock costs tie up cash, so start with fast-selling types and check supplier payment terms
• Check sales tax registration and how resale certificates work in your state
• Check zoning for your unit, local business license rules and fire code requirements for storing stock
• Imported hides may involve customs paperwork and restrictions on some animal skins, so check with your supplier or a customs broker
• General liability, property and stock insurance, plus workers' compensation if you hire
• Leather stock can be damaged by damp, heat and pests, so plan storage

Startup costs are typically around $20,000 to $90,000, depending on your unit rent, the range of hides you stock and supplier payment terms. Large stock ties up cash, so starting with fast-selling types may help.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on your trade accounts, stock range and how often business customers reorder. Stock, rent and staffing costs come out of that revenue.

Check sales tax registration and how resale certificates work in your state, plus zoning for your unit, local business license rules and fire code requirements for storing stock. For imported hides, check customs paperwork and any animal skin restrictions with your supplier.