Here’s the unglamorous but honest roadmap:
Start with market research—spend 4-6 weeks studying demographics, competitor pricing, and trends in your target market. Identify 3-5 product niches where you can differentiate (don’t compete on everything).
Next, vet suppliers systematically: get quotes from 10+, compare landed costs (unit price + freight + customs + compliance testing), negotiate samples. Register your business, secure wholesale licenses, obtain EIN (in US).
Budget realistically: initial inventory of 10,000-15,000 mixed units runs $20,000-$50,000; add $5,000-$10,000 for customs brokerage, compliance testing, warehousing setup. Many beginners underestimate working capital—cash gets tied up in inventory for 60-90 days. Consider a line of credit.
Build relationships before launch: contact 50+ potential B2B customers (retailers, distributors, online resellers) to gauge interest and pre-orders. Pre-orders can fund initial inventory, reducing capital requirements dramatically. Launch with 3-5 core SKUs, not 50. Depth beats breadth when starting.
