Natural stone container exporter

Overseas stone distributors, stonemasons, building contractors and project buyers who want US stone such as granite, limestone, marble or sandstone.

You earn the margin between what you pay the quarry and what you charge the buyer, after freight, insurance and fees. Revenue figures are gross sales, and your profit is only a share of that.

• Negotiating prices with quarries and buyers
• Managing cash flow and shipping costs
• Spotting stone quality problems
• Handling export documents carefully

• Working capital risk: the startup estimate mainly covers paying for one or two container loads of stone plus freight, insurance, fees and samples, and you may pay the quarry before the buyer pays you, so check payment terms and whether trade credit insurance or letters of credit make sense
• Export compliance: check export filing requirements, buyer screening and the destination country's import duties and rules before each sale
• Damage and disputes: stone can crack in transit, so agree inspection, packing and Incoterms in writing and check cargo insurance
• Check your state's sales tax rules and whether you need a local business license
• Exchange rate swings between quoting and getting paid

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $60,000 to $250,000, depending on the stone, container size and freight. This mainly covers paying for one or two container loads plus insurance, fees and samples.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on how many container loads you sell and your margins. Timing varies because you may pay the quarry before your buyer pays you.

Check export filing requirements, buyer screening and the destination country's import duties and rules before each sale. Also check your state's sales tax rules, whether you need a local business license, and cargo insurance.