Online water pump shop with fitting advice

Homeowners with wells or flooding problems, small farms and ranches, and handymen or installers who want a quick, knowledgeable supplier.

Markup on each pump and accessory sold, plus extra margin on fittings, hoses, switches and bundles. Repeat orders from installers and farms add steady income.

• Understanding pump types, flow and pressure
• Clear written advice for non-experts
• Basic online store management

• Check your state's sales tax registration and resale certificate rules, including selling into other states
• Check whether products touching drinking water need NSF/ANSI 61 or lead-free certification
• Wrong advice can lead to damage claims, so get general liability and product liability insurance and keep advice general
• Heavy items mean freight costs and returns, so check the manufacturer's warranty and return terms
• Giving installation advice may be limited by plumbing or well driller licensing in some states, so check your state board

Startup costs are typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your store setup and how you source products. These are estimates. Many orders ship straight from distributors or manufacturers, which can keep your upfront costs lower.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on your range, how well your sizing advice wins customers and how much time you put in. Estimates start from about 10 hours a week.

Check your state's sales tax registration and resale certificate rules, including selling into other states. Also check whether products touching drinking water need NSF/ANSI 61 or lead-free certification, and whether plumbing or well driller licensing limits installation advice.