Start a home-based pallet truck and racking dealer business

Small warehouses, factories, distributors, wholesalers, self-storage and e-commerce sellers in your area who need to equip or expand a space.

You earn the margin between the supplier's dealer price and your quote, or a commission as a sales rep. Repeat orders for spare parts and add-on racking build steady income.

• Business-to-business selling
• Reading product specs and load ratings
• Following up quotes and keeping records

• Check your state's rules on resale certificates and sales tax collection
• General liability and product liability insurance, ask your insurer what suppliers require
• Load ratings and racking safety: check with the manufacturer and your local building or fire department about permits and engineering requirements before quoting installs
• Freight damage and returns, agree who is responsible in writing with each supplier
• Check HOA or lease rules if you run the business from home

Startup costs are typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your website, samples or catalogs, insurance and any registration. Suppliers ship direct, so you hold no stock. These are estimates, not quotes.

Monthly revenue is typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how many warehouse customers you win and the size of each order. Plan on at least about 15 hours a week. These are estimates only.

Check your state's rules on resale certificates and sales tax collection, and ask your insurer about liability and product coverage. Check racking permits and load rating requirements with the manufacturer and your local building or fire department, and any HOA or lease rules.