How to Start a Wholesale Business

Starting a wholesale business may be daunting at first but if you have sufficient knowledge of the industry then everything will come easy. Read this article and discover some of the things you should know about before you start your own wholesale business.

Wholesaling in a nutshell is the business of supplying merchandise to retailers and distributors who in turn sell said merchandise to their customers.

A wholesaler therefore acts as a bridge between the manufacturer and the retailer. The wholesale distribution industry isn’t known to many because the public is more familiar with the retailers and their sales channels (convenience stores, boutiques, supermarkets, bookstores etc). Some say that the retail industry is a veritable Warfield. If this is so, then retail shops and boutiques can be likened to foot soldiers and wholesalers as the logistics arm that provides their artillery.

    If you are interested in starting your own wholesale distribution business, here is a step-by-step guide may help you
  • Select the type of goods that you want to pass on to distributors and retailers. The foolproof way is to choose a product that you are already familiar with. If you are fond of clothes, then choose clothes. If you are a voracious reader then sell wholesale books etcetera. This way, your expertise on the field will not go to waste. Also, do have the business smarts to see to it that you test the sample product first before you purchase them in bulk.
    Most likely, you will be dealing with foreign suppliers and communication may be a problem. Make sure that you have all the details clarified before you enter into an arrangement. Make sure that you have everything in paper. Don’t skimp on legal fees. Have a lawyer look into your contract to guarantee that everything is in order. A contract is there for a reason and that is to protect your interest.
  • Get your business some warehouse space. Naturally, you will need a place to store your merchandise. In choosing a warehouse facility, make sure the area is secure and will satisfy your storage needs. Get a place that is cost effective. Compute for the warehouse cost in terms of square footage.
  • You need to get a clear picture of your product flow. Develop a system that will enable you to track the progress of your merchandise from the manufacturer all the way down to the retailers. An effective way to accomplish this is by creating a number system for your products. Make sure you conduct periodic inventory checks.
  • Develop a system of storing your products the quickest way and with the least amount of damage. Ideally, fast moving products must be placed near the front of the warehouse for easy access while products that are only in demand seasonally should be placed near the back.
  • The key to succeeding in this industry is by developing a strong and solid distribution channel or network. Establish yourself as a competitive customer by offering your retailers something that they don’t get from your peers in the trade. For example, easy payment terms or higher credit limit and so on.

Endnote

The business of wholesaling is a very lucrative business and there is always room for one more in the industry. To be successful in this business, or in any business for that matter, you need to gather as much information about the industry as you can. Remember, knowledge is the key to success. Trite but true.

49 Comments

  • sylvester langa said on January 3, 2010
    philadelphia pa. 19143. i am also in 15 olowu street ikeja lagos nigeria
  • sylvester langa said on January 3, 2010
    we would like to know the opportunities available as we are a licensed general goods importers in nigeria
  • Basheer Ahamed said on June 5, 2010
    what is the procedure to start a wholesale business? please advice legal formalities
  • Molly said on June 19, 2010
    We Xiamen golden rhino Expore & Import trading Co.,Ltd as shoes supplier from China specialized in sport shoes/casual shoes/sandals, want to cooperate with your company. Wish our products will helpful for your business! Regards and ciao! Molly MAIL:moly520@gmail.com
  • tshepo masopha said on November 18, 2010
    i'm a south african staying in soweto wants to start a sweets wholesaler
  • joseph milligan said on January 3, 2011
    we at import usa co specialize in region free new release dvd joseph_milligan2006@yahoo.com
  • brijesh karekar said on January 10, 2011
    hi, we are wholesale manufacturers of sea shell based artefacts, curios, and crafts. we have a very creative team of artisans making them. anybody on the lookout of above mentioned offerings kindly contact on 9822102995 or mail at gauriartsgoa@yahoo.com
  • roger godinho said on August 23, 2011
    wholesale of wines & liquor store in vasco da gama city, state Goa , country india
  • Vinod Biranje said on January 31, 2012
    Hi! i leave in vasco and i want to start a wholesale liquor distributors business , as i am new to this field i shall need some guidance from your side thanks
  • sree prasanna said on March 1, 2012
    hi i am in india we are doing ready made garment business in europe if are need agent in india pls contact shreeprasannaglobal@gmail.com
  • Jimmy Mokgwetsi said on July 27, 2012
    Hi my name is Jimmy Mokgwetsi, I would like start a grocery/food wholesale in my community. I am a resident of Koffiefontein, Letsmeng Muncipality, Xhariep District, Free State, In South Africa. Please give relevant guidance as there is a huge market for this business in my area. Ta
  • Goutam said on September 11, 2012
    Hi, I want to start wholesales baby products business in west bangal at Howrah (india)will it possible? please tell me how can i get and how much capital will need? Regards Goutam
  • Paseka Steve Mofokeng said on October 23, 2012
    I am leaving at Sebokeng in Vereeniging and want to open the wholesale beer business to sell to public in bulk, so I need an advise on how to kick start my small business, and where to stock and with how much amount of quantity I have to qualify to stock and how much a trailer loaded with cases of beer is. Regards Paseka Steve Mofokeng 0744221905/0794110314
  • DR NAGENDRA SHEKHAWAT said on October 28, 2012
    how to start a medical wholesale business and how much capital is required.
  • megha said on December 1, 2012
    hi' i would like to open up a tea wholesale in shillong (india), need your suggestion n kindly focus me, is this would be a good profitable & how much capital require for the same .
  • Petrus Jacobs said on January 24, 2013
    I want to start a food and beverage wholesaler in Ritchie, 30km outside Kimberley in South Africa. Please send me information as there's a huge market for this type of venture Picos, partnerships will also be welcomed.
  • Renwick D'costa said on January 31, 2013
    Hi, I am looking out for a wholesale manufacturer in cashew nut business for exporting. Well I would like to have this opportunity to be dealing with the very best in this industry. Thank you. My contact No : 9890298974 (Goa)
  • Brock said on February 27, 2013
    hi, I am from johannesburg and I would like to start a wholesale business in my area, how do I go about doing this? is there specific licenses that I need. Thank you
  • Iqbal Alli said on March 28, 2013
    Angul, Odisha, India. Mb 09124228782. We want to open a garment and shoes. We also want to need Plastic begs printing machine.
  • Sam said on April 20, 2013
    We are a Leading Trading company based in Doha,Qatar. We buy and Import the following Products.Any one Wants to export us please contact us.
    1) All Construction Materials
    2) Oil Field Equipments
    3) Ship and Automobile Spare parts
    4) Heavy Machineries,Equipments,Safety products
    5) UEA and Fertilizer
    6) All Food and Agro Products
    7) Ready made garments and Fabrics
    Interested Exporters please send us your queries for more details: torbay.contracts@gmail.com. ANY ONE WANTS TO JOIN WITH US IN THE SAME BUSINESS PLS CONTACT US.
  • shital said on May 7, 2013
    hi, we are from Nepal, want to start a wholesale business of chinese printing papers. plz help us to find out best chinese printing paper manufacturer
  • Mr. Kuldeep said on May 18, 2013
    hello i want to start ayurvedic medicine wholesale business, what document is required for start. Regards, Kuldeep
  • BISWANATH MANNA said on July 1, 2013
    I WANT TO START A WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTING BUSINESS IN BAGNAN , HOWRAH, WEST BENGAL, AREA PLEASE GIVE ME A TOTAL IDEA
  • Precious osia said on July 2, 2013
    I live in Ikorodu, Lagos Nigeria. I want to enter into the beer industry here in Nigeria as a wholesaler. How do i go about it and what are the requirements?
  • rajeesh said on August 9, 2013
    I want to start manufacturing company in UAE FREE ZONE
  • ajit said on November 12, 2013
    i want to start wholesale distributing business in jagraon (punjab)plz help thinks
  • vishnu prakash singh said on November 19, 2013
    Hi, I want to start wholesales baby products business in west delhi or deharadun uttranchal (india)will it possible? please tell me how can i get & where and how much capital will need? Regards Rawat vishnu.
  • aida said on November 25, 2013
    Hi, I would like to start a small business here in The Netherlands. I am a Filipina leaving here in The Netherlands for quite a time. I would like to buy natural beauty products from the Philippines. Can you help where to start? I need your help! Sincerely, Aida Miguel
  • RUDOLPH said on December 4, 2013
    Hi! I'm from SA and I'm looking investors who want to invest in profitable wholesale business.
  • yoganandareddy said on February 6, 2014
    hi i would like to start any small wholesale business please give me any advise
  • anup bakshi said on February 7, 2014
    i want to start wholesale and retail tea business in west bengal only. what will be documents and license required, please know to me by email as early as possible.
  • sam said on March 17, 2014
    Hi i am from vasco goa I want to start mini market, I have my own shop near MES collage, please help me. Thank you.
  • sam said on March 17, 2014
    Help me to start mini market in vasco near MES collage.
  • cliff matome madibana said on April 11, 2014
    i want to start a wholesale in grocery in bochum, limpopo in south africa so please help me on how to start and where to get the inventory
  • linda said on April 26, 2014
    Hi, i am linda i have started my own wholesale business but profit margin is very less as most of profit is made by wholesaler from whom i buy. can i directly buy from the company the products that i sell. pls help.
  • Paritosh Barman said on May 1, 2014
    Hi, I want to do business of tea wholesale since I Belong to north bangle tea garden area but I don't know the exact procedure, to my mind I want to buy tea in bulk at wholesaler rate n export to cities like Delhi Mumbai . pls do let me know the process of buying n legal issue to put down and what is the estimate initial budget is enough. Thanks a lot
  • prasad chincholkar said on May 6, 2014
    Dear Sir, I want to start pathology chemical wholesale shop at khandwa (M.P) plz send me documentation required my no. is 9826022652. Khandwa, MP
  • Silvestre Mendes said on June 5, 2014
    Recently I started a wholesale business in Cape Verde Island which sells varieties of products from groceries to auto parts. Please help me find distributors in USA to supply my business. Thank you
  • shakti kumar said on June 27, 2014
    Dear Sir, I want to hindustan uniliver wholesale distributorship at azamgarh and maunath bhanjan (u.p) please help me necessity documents and procedure
  • puja manna said on July 20, 2014
    I am interested to start a wholesale buiasness in shyampur, howrah, 711301. please give me some idea about that. also give me the idea that which product will be suitable for that place and how much will invest for that.
  • asha sarkar said on July 22, 2014
    i want to start a wholesale unit in cuttack, odisha. please help me in choosing a product to deal in , with less competition.
  • rahul nayak said on December 25, 2014
    Hi, I'm from a small town in Odisha, 70 km south of Berhampur called Mohana. I own a land 9000 square feet on the main road of business place. I want to open wholesale general supplies which mainly includes grocery and household products. As per my survey all retailers r dependent on Berhampur wholesale market, and apparently my place is on the way to Berhampur. I find this is as an opportunity. However, I live out of the country and wand to go back to my native place and start up this business. Plz advice what measures do I have to take to start this business and what wud be the investment cost and how much back up capital I must have and what are other risks area I need to look into before jumping into it? Most important is, I'm I taking the right decision? Plz advice. Regards
  • jyoti said on August 21, 2015
    hi, mam/sir! i want to start a wholesale distributions(clothes, bags n other fashion accessories) business in arunachal pradesh. pliz advc...from where shall i get all my necessities n how? tnk u.
  • gajendra adhikari said on October 28, 2015
    i have cartoon industry in nepal. i want craft paper import from china. i need exporter to nepal
  • Ramsufal Yadav said on March 4, 2016
    Hi, I want to start wholesales Ghari Detergent powder business in uttar pradesh at Karwi chatrakoot (india)will it possible? please tell me how can i get and how much capital will need? Regards Ramsufal
  •  said on September 9, 2017
    I want start dealership of parle product
  • Kay said on January 18, 2018
    Hello all, I'm Kay, we are manufacturer of new born baby clothing from China, if you like to wholesale baby clothing , please contact me directly - tongtongmengli@gmail.com , thanks firstly .
  • aryan roy said on March 22, 2018
    i have a business offer in online shopping distributor requirement if you are interested the call 7470671606. Regards aryan roy, contact no.7470671606, Fcart online
  • Mixie said on April 17, 2018
    Need clothes business left over for charity

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