Start a retaining wall materials dealer business (no yard)

Small landscapers, remodelers and homeowners who want help choosing materials and working out quantities.

You earn the margin between dealer pricing and your selling price, and can add a fee for quantity estimates and delivery coordination.

• Sales and follow-up
• Estimating quantities from a project plan
• Organizing orders and deliveries
• Customer service

• Sales tax registration and resale certificates, check with your state's revenue department
• Home occupation permit, HOA or lease rules if you work from home
• Quantity mistakes or delivery problems can cost you money, agree clear returns and damage terms with suppliers
• General liability insurance, and check whether you need a local business license
• Delivery fees and minimum orders can squeeze margins on small jobs

Startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your home office setup, insurance and any licenses. Because suppliers deliver straight to the job site, you hold little or no stock. Treat this as an estimate.

Monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how many projects you supply and order sizes. That is revenue, not profit. Delivery fees and minimum orders can squeeze margins on small jobs.

Check sales tax registration and resale certificates with your state revenue department. Also check home occupation permit, HOA or lease rules, whether you need a local business license, liability insurance, and clear returns and damage terms with suppliers.