Open a surgical supply shop near a medical campus
Open a small shop near a hospital or health sciences school selling instruments, dressings and student kits.
- $40k-150k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
10,170 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.8% in a year
NAICS 446199 “All other health and personal care stores”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
A small retail shop stocking surgical instruments, dressings, gloves, stethoscopes and consumables. It sits near a hospital, nursing school or medical campus so clinicians and students can buy in person and get same-day items.
Your first three steps
- Scout locations near health programs and hospitals, and talk to students and clinic managers about what they struggle to find locally
- Open accounts with two or three wholesale suppliers and price a starter inventory of your most-requested items
- Check zoning, business license and sales tax permit requirements with your city or county before signing a lease
Who pays
Students, residents, nurses and technicians, plus nearby clinics, dental offices and home health agencies that need quick top-up orders.
How it makes money
Retail markup on in-store sales, student kit sales at the start of each term, and account pricing for local practices that reorder regularly.
Skills that help
- Retail and inventory management
- Product knowledge and customer service
- Building relationships with schools and clinics
Watch out for
- Check whether your state requires a medical device distributor or similar license, and which products it covers
- Stay within FDA rules on devices and avoid prescription-only items without proper licensing
- General liability and product liability insurance, plus inventory and property coverage
- Lease costs and slow months during school breaks can strain cash flow
- Track expiry dates and storage conditions for sterile and dated products
- Workers' compensation insurance once you hire staff
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: surgical supply shop near a medical campus
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 open a surgical supply shop?
Startup costs are typically around $40,000 to $150,000, depending on your lease, shop fit-out and how much inventory you stock. These figures are estimates, and lease costs can strain cash flow in slow months.
How much can a surgical supply shop earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $8,000 to $30,000, depending on your location, product range and how many students, clinicians and clinics you serve. Slow months during school breaks can affect cash flow.
What licenses and rules should I check for a surgical supply shop?
Check whether your state requires a medical device distributor or similar license, and which products it covers. Stay within FDA rules and avoid prescription-only items without proper licensing. Also check insurance, including general liability, product liability and workers' compensation once you hire staff.
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Photo: domkarch on Pixabay