Local plastic products supplier with a small warehouse

Local restaurants, food producers, farms, workshops, contractors, retailers and facilities teams that reorder regularly.

You sell at a markup over your bulk purchase price. Regular accounts, volume discounts and delivery fees bring in steady income, and a wider range increases average order size.

• Sales and building relationships with business buyers
• Inventory management and purchasing
• Basic delivery logistics and customer service

• Zoning and lease terms for warehouse use, so check with your city or county
• Inventory ties up cash, and slow-moving stock can be costly
• General liability, property and commercial auto insurance, plus workers' compensation once you hire
• Safe handling and forklift use may require training, so check OSHA guidance
• Food-contact products may need documentation proving they meet FDA or state requirements
• Check your state's rules on resale certificates and collecting sales tax

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on your warehouse lease, how much inventory you buy and your delivery setup. Inventory ties up cash, so plan your starting stock carefully.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on your product range, the number of regular local customers and how often they reorder. Slow-moving stock can be costly, so watch what you hold.

Check zoning and lease terms for warehouse use with your city or county, plus insurance such as general liability, property and commercial auto. Also check OSHA guidance on forklift training, FDA or state documentation for food-contact items, and resale certificate rules.