Start an online screw and fastener supplier
Sell screws and fasteners in bulk packs online to contractors, shops and small manufacturers.
- $1.5k-8k
- Side hustle
- Online
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
9,605 US businesses with employees in this field, +6.0% in a year
NAICS 423840 “Industrial supplies merchant wholesalers”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
An online store selling screws, bolts, anchors and other fasteners in bulk boxes. You buy from wholesale distributors or manufacturers, often with the supplier shipping direct, and you handle the website, listings and customer questions.
Your first three steps
- Pick a niche (for example deck screws, stainless fasteners or cabinet hardware) and compare prices from a few wholesale distributors
- Ask suppliers about account terms, minimum orders and drop shipping
- Set up a simple online store with clear size and material filters and list your first 50 products
Who pays
Small contractors, handymen, woodworkers, repair shops, small manufacturers and maintenance teams that reorder the same items regularly.
How it makes money
You earn the margin between wholesale and selling price on each bulk box or pack. Repeat orders and volume discounts for regular business customers help build steady sales.
Skills that help
- Knowing screw types, sizes and materials
- Organizing stock and product listings
- Customer service and quoting
- Basic online selling
Watch out for
- Check state sales tax registration and how to handle resale certificates from business buyers
- Check whether your city or county requires a business license
- Product quality and grades: structural fasteners may need to meet specific standards, so check specs before selling
- Shipping heavy boxes can eat into margins, so price shipping carefully
- General liability and product liability insurance, ask an insurer what fits
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: online screw and fastener supplier
Researched with live web search for United States: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start an online fastener business?
Startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on your website, product range and any stock you hold. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at $500 to $5,000, depending on how many repeat trade customers you win.
What rules should I check before selling screws and fasteners online?
Check state sales tax registration, how to handle resale certificates from business buyers, and whether your city or county requires a business license. Structural fasteners may need to meet specific standards, so check specs before selling.
What skills and costs should I plan for when selling fasteners?
Shipping heavy boxes can eat into margins, so price shipping carefully. Ask an insurer what general liability and product liability cover fits. Knowing screw types, sizes and materials helps you answer customer questions with confidence.
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Photo: manfredrichter on Pixabay