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If you’re a new e-commerce seller struggling to find wholesale items to sell from home, you’re not alone. It can be tough and extremely time-consuming to scour the internet and all your resources to find the best wholesale products to sell.
A lot can go into picking the right wholesale products to sell online:
- Consumer demand
- Supply
- Profit ratio
If you make an intelligent decision here, it can pay off.
So in this article, we’re going to cover how to sell wholesale goods from home and most importantly which can earn you the most profits.
You will learn:
- What wholesale products are
- How to find suppliers (including suppliers you can shop online)
- How to buy from a wholesale marketplace
- Places to research wholesale goods
- 29 wholesale products to sell online
Let’s go!
What are wholesale products?
Wholesale products are goods sold from wholesale suppliers to a retail store at wholesale pricing. When consumers buy products at stores and online, they pay retail prices. The retail price is the price stores charge customers. It’s a price that accounts for their supply cost plus a markup, which allows retailers to make a profit.
Products are manufactured and sold to wholesale suppliers. Wholesale suppliers then sell the goods to retailers at wholesale prices. The retailer will sell those goods to consumers at retail prices.
Here’s an example:
A manufacturer produces an iPad case at a factory. They sell those iPad cases to wholesale suppliers.
The wholesale supplier stores the iPad cases they bought and then prepares them for resale to retailers.
The supplier will charge a wholesale price to the retailer, like $3 per iPad case. Then, the retailer, like Walmart, will set a retail price to sell the iPad cases to customers, like $5.
The wholesaler makes $3 per iPad case. The retailer makes $2 profit per iPad case ($5 retail price less the $3 wholesale price).
Benefits of Selling Wholesale Items from Home
Why sell wholesale products instead of retail?
There can many benefits of operating as a wholesaler rather than a retailer:
- Offload products in bulk to consumers
- Reduced handling time and costs compared to selling retail
- Saving money on warehouse costs
- Reduced overhead costs
First, as a wholesaler, you’ll be able to offload products from your warehouse in bulk. You won’t have to worry about selling individual items at a time. You’ll be moving large lots of goods in bulk.
Then, from selling in bulk, you’ll be handling fewer items individually. Think about the time and effort required to handle 200 individual customer orders daily, for example, compared to handling 3 bulk lots of wholesale orders daily.
Wholesaling from home can save you money on warehouse costs, as well. Instead of investing in a big storage facility off-site, you’ll use your home so there’s no additional cost for storage. You can store wholesale goods in your garage, spare bedroom, attic, etc.
Saving on the cost of warehouse space is one example of how you’ll save on overhead costs. Other ways you can save on overhead include saving money on utilities, electricity, and potentially equipment costs.
Starting a wholesale business can be cost-effective as well. It’s an example of a business you can start with $10K or less.
How to start an online business selling wholesale items
There are six steps you can follow to start your online business selling wholesale goods:
- Decide what you’ll sell
- Pick a business name and business structure
- Create a business plan
- Get your wholesale permit and other required licenses
- Get your EIN (employer identification number)
- Plan out your wholesale operation
1. Decide what wholesale products you’ll sell
There are hundreds of different kinds of products you can sell wholesale. The first step in forming your wholesale business is to choose what kind of products you’ll sell. You can choose to sell building materials, big screen TVs, children’s shoes, home decor goods, etc.
Further down, we have prepared a list of 29 wholesale products you sell from home to give you some inspiration. This should help you decide what kinds of products you’ll sell at wholesale prices.
After you choose the type of wholesale products you want to carry and sell, move on to the next step.
2. Choose your business name and structure
In step 2, you’ll choose your business name and pick a business structure. Examples of business structures are:
- Sole proprietorship
- LLC
- Partnership
- Corporation
Research this to choose a business form that best fits your needs, then craft your business plan.
3. Write your business plan
Creating your business plan can be as simple or detailed as you want to make it. You can create it by hand using word processing software, buy a business plan template, work with a professional to help you create your plan, etc.
Whatever path you choose, your business plan should include these things:
- Company overview
- Your vision
- Short-term outlook
- Long-term outlook
- Marketing
- Inventory
- Manufacturers
- Market analysis
4. Get wholesale permits and other licenses needed
Getting your wholesale permits and licenses is crucial to starting a wholesale business. The licenses and permits you need will vary based on your area.
Based on where you operate your business, permits might be called different names, too, like:
- Resale license
- Operating permit or,
- Wholesale resellers permit
Check with your Secretary of State’s website to see what licenses/permits are required where to to operate the business.
5. Get an EIN
An EIN or employer identification number is like your business’s social security number. You’ll need this for tax and other purposes.
Not all business structures require an EIN so before you get to this step, make sure you choose your business structure first, so you know if this will be required for your company.
6. Plan your wholesale operation
The last step in the process is to plan your wholesale operation.
You’re going to look at the logistics:
- Choose the manufacturers
- Plan warehouse space
- Choose your shipping model
- Staffing, as needed
Think about the big picture.
- How will your business operate?
- Will this be a solopreneur venture, or do you want employees?
- Will you need business insurance?
- Are you in need of hiring an attorney to review your business plan and operation before launching?
These are all things to consider in this crucial final step before launching your business.
How to find suppliers
Finding suppliers can be the most significant pain point for business owners. It can take a lot of research, time, and planning to find suppliers that will provide you with your inventory. If you’re in search of where to find cheap wholesale products, there are many directions you can take.
Here are some ideas for how to find suppliers:
1. Use a supplier directory
A supplier directory will have a collection of high-quality products from various suppliers where you can find wholesale products to sell online. Using a directory saves time and takes a lot of the legwork out of the research process.
You’ll have a list of suppliers you can review and buy from.
Here are a few supplier directories to review:
- Salehoo: Global directory of dropshippers and wholesale companies
- Worldwide Brands: Directory of online retailer-friendly wholesale companies and dropshippers.
- Wholesale Central: Sourcing tools to find wholesale suppliers and wholesale products.
2. Visit an online wholesale marketplace
Online wholesale marketplaces are one of the best places to find wholesale goods to sell from home.
The e-commerce industry grew by over 14% in 2021.
Online wholesale marketplaces are an invaluable resource to support e-commerce sellers.
In the internet age, retailers no longer have to travel to trade shows or wholesale factories to buy goods. An online wholesale marketplace can show its entire catalog on its website, making it easy for retailers to place online orders.
Here are some examples of wholesale marketplaces that exist online. Some are even open as online retailers to the general public.
Some examples are:
Get some more ideas in our list of websites like Aliexpress.
Plus how to sell Alibaba products on Amazon.
3. Contact manufacturers directly
Lastly, you can reach out to manufacturers directly. Sending an email or making a phone call is a fast way to get answers to your questions about:
- Buying
- Order minimum order quantities (MOQ)
- Shipping
Contacting manufacturers directly can also get you access to information that might not be publicly shown online, like discounts, dropshipping supply, and more.
Learn more about how to make money dropshipping!
How to buy from a wholesale marketplace
Buying from a wholesale marketplace is easier than you think. The process might vary a bit for each marketplace but generally, here’s what the process looks like:
- Research wholesale marketplaces: Doing a thorough online search can produce a list of wholesale marketplace websites of interest. Once you identify the wholesale marketplaces to buy from, you’ll register to join.
- Register to join: Registration is usually pretty straightforward on wholesale marketplace sites. You’ll join and provide your personal and business details. You might be required to submit a copy of your business license/permit or documents that verify that you’re a business, then wait for your approval.
- Get approved to buy: The approval process can be instant, or it might take some time to get approved and set up on the wholesale marketplace site. Once approved, you can start buying wholesale products.
Places to research wholesale goods
You can start your search online when it’s time to find places to research wholesale goods. Visit search engines like Google, business vendor and business owner forums, community-based sites like Facebook business groups, Reddit, etc.
Social media is an excellent place to research wholesale goods.
You may also come across Discord chat threads and Telegram groups you can join, which can provide a wealth of information on the world of wholesale, the best wholesale vendors and wholesale marketplace sites to join, etc.
29 wholesale products to sell online
If you’re wondering what kind of wholesale items to sell from home, here’s a list of 29 things we’ve compiled to give you some inspiration. Check it out.
1. Clothing
Clothing is always going to be in demand. You can sell clothing and apparel for women, men, and kids.
This industry is somewhat saturated already so make sure to do your research before jumping in. You can even consider selling niche clothing items or catering to specific markets like the petite, plus size, or big and tall markets, for example. A common example is finding the best ways to sell t-shirts online.
2. Jewelry
Jewelry is one of the lowest-cost wholesale items to sell from home on this entire list.
This is wholesale fashion jewelry, not fine jewelry. You can buy wholesale lots of jewelry by the dozens or hundreds for pennies per item. This includes necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, and other jewelry items.
Footwear is a wholesale market to explore as well. There are many different categories of footwear to sell in like:
- Sneakers
- Sandals
- Boots
- Specialty footwear
You can carry footwear for adults, kids, and babies in all styles or specific categories, your choice. Check out our guide on reselling shoes for an example.
4. Toys
Toys and kids’ products have a strong market. There’s always going to be demand for these products. Examples of products in this category include:
- Board games
- Bath toys
- Arts and crafts toys
5. Baby Gear/Goods
Baby gear and baby goods are going to have the same kind of demand that exists for toys. Parents are the passionate audience behind this category and the fuel for current and future demand.
6. Electronics accessories
Electronics accessories are goods like:
- Phone accessories
- Mousepads
- Keyboards
- Power banks
- Car chargers
As the electronics industry continues to grow and evolve, the demand for electronics accessories will continue to flourish.
7. Electronics
Electronics like computers, cameras, headphones, and other electronics are great for generating high profits. This is an ever-changing industry, so as electronics continue evolving, the need for recurring purchases will be present.
8. Outdoor hobby supplies/equipment
This category of outdoor hobby supplies and equipment includes:
- Camping gear
- Beach supplies
- Swim gear
This is more niche than other categories, which is great for competition. This category may have seasonal demand, so keep this in mind if choosing the outdoor hobby supplies/equipment niche.
9. Seasonal products
Seasonal products are going to have ebbs and flows throughout the year. There’s going to be an optimal season for these goods, like how outdoor equipment/goods will see higher sales during warmer times of the year like spring and summer.
This product category can perform very well but prepare yourself for the slow times of the year that will happen.
10. Recreational goods
Recreational goods include gaming products, sporting goods, and accessories like:
- Billiards equipment and accessories
- Hunting goods
- Camping goods
- Water sports goods
These products can overlap with seasonal and outdoor/hobby goods but in general, the recreational category is broader, covering products not limited by seasonality or outdoor use.
11. Lifestyle goods
Lifestyle products can include home and beauty products. Some examples are consumer products like:
- Fitness goods and accessories
- Home goods like blankets or linens
- Beauty products like cosmetics
The lifestyle category can cover a wide range of products from fitness to home goods and more.
Get some ideas by checking out the best fitness affiliate programs.
12. Home goods
Home goods are products for use around the home.
This can include home decor items like curtains, blankets, and pillows. And it also covers at-home use goods like towels, furniture, rugs, etc.
13. Automotive parts and accessories
Automotive parts and accessories is a great hobby market.
For people interested in fixing up and upgrading their car or motorcycle, this would be a good niche market to enter.
Auto parts and accessories are great for recurring purchases, as consumers may be interested in new features available in parts that come to market every year.
The automotive industry is ever-changing, so as vehicles continue to evolve and change, parts and accessories will follow.
14. Sports equipment/supplies
Sporting goods and equipment cover products like:
- Tennis rackets
- Basketball and other sports products
- Hobby sports equipment and gear
Some seasonality may exist in this product category so just prepare yourself for this.
15. Educational materials
Educational materials are:
- Books
- Learning materials
- School supplies
The demand for educational goods can be mostly year-round, with slower sales that may occur during summer when schools are usually closed.
16. B2B goods
B2B (business to business) goods are products that you’ll sell to other companies, like:
- Manufacturing materials
- Apparel
- Semiconductor parts
The opportunity for recurring purchases can be strong in this category, which is great for strong, revolving cash flow.
17. Furniture
Furniture and office equipment is another high-demand category. These are more expensive, so you may not even need volume selling to make a healthy profit.
It includes:
- Couches and sectionals
- Kitchen table sets
- Dining room sets
- Bedroom furniture
18. Kitchen goods
Kitchen goods are products that will continue to be upgraded and replenished by households. These include products like:
- Cutlery
- Flatware
- Small appliances like coffee makers, blenders, hand mixers, etc.
19. Health/wellness products
The health and wellness category can include an array of beauty, nutrition, and fitness products, including subscription boxes.
Check out some of the best health and wellness affiliate programs for inspiration.
20. Pet supplies
Pet supplies and toys are also high-demand categories to sell in. People will continue to be passionate about their pets. This is a consumer market you can resell over and over again.
Examples of goods that fall in the pets category include:
- Pet furniture
- Pet toys
- Sleeping supplies like dog beds
- Pet food
21. Party supplies
Party supplies and decor products can be a smart idea for wholesale selling because of the price. These goods can be sourced pretty cheaply, which can extend your budget.
Party supply products like:
- Streamers
- Ribbons
- Tableware
- Balloons
22. Gift items
With the gift items market, you can go niche to block out some of the competition, or you can sell gift items in a broad range of subcategories.
Gift item products you can sell include:
- Holiday goods
- Lifestyle items
- Home decor
- Cologne and perfume
23. Food/beverage products
The food and beverage wholesale market can include shelf-stable and non-shelf-stable goods like:
- Meat
- Dairy
- Cereal
- Condiments
- Gourmet food items
24. Organization/storage goods
Organization and storage of goods support a healthy lifestyle, believe it or not. Being more organized provides a wealth of benefits like:
- Less stress
- Better sleep
- A healthier diet
- Less distraction and more productivity
This year-round product category can cover items like shelving, storage containers, and other organizational products to help people feel better and benefit health. This can go hand in hand with self-care, another growing market.
25. Self-care products
The self-care industry is expected to reach 13 billion by 2026.
This is a huge market, especially with more people adopting self-care routines and rituals. Products in this category include goods like:
26. Home appliances
Home appliances like washers, dryers, refrigerators, and other goods fall into this category.
These tend to be big, bulky items, which could make for difficult storage in some places. If you have garage or storage shed space, this could be a lucrative industry to operate in.
27. Clothing accessories
Clothing accessories like scarves, gloves, hats, and other items would fall in the clothing accessories category. This is a competitive category to operate in, but if you go niche, you can improve your chances of standing apart from the competition.
28. Books
Books have been a popular product to sell wholesale for some time. Book flipping has become increasingly more popular as experts like Jarry Lew, and others have brought it to light.
Examples of wholesale books you can resell include:
- Textbooks
- Fiction books
- Nonfiction books
29. Computers
Computers are part of the electronics category, but they deserve a category all of their own. There are:
- Desktop computers
- Gaming computers
- Laptops
- Netbooks
This is a higher-priced product category, but there’s plenty of room for profits.
What are the best wholesale items to sell from home that are good to buy and sell?
After reviewing our list of wholesale items to sell from home, you might be stuck on what direction to take.
What are the best products to buy and sell wholesale?
Before you dive into each product category to determine which products to sell, think about:
- Your warehouse space
- How much capital you have available
Consider warehouse space
Your “warehouse” space is where you’ll store the wholesale goods. This could be your garage, basement, attic, a spare bedroom, etc.
How much space do you have?
That’s the big question.
Whatever space you have available, you’re going to be limited.
And, all space isn’t created equally. A spare bedroom isn’t going to be the same size as an empty garage.
Your available space will give you a good indication of what kind of goods you’ll be able to store and sell easily.
For example, if you try selling living room furniture, you might only be able to store two living room sets.
This can limit you. It means you’ll only be able to sell two living room sets at a time.
In that same space, you could easily store hundreds of computers if you decided to get into the computers niche.
Two living room sets at a time versus hundreds of computer sales at a time?
You can see why starting here is important, looking at the space you have available.
Next, look at your capital.
Think about your capital
Do you have a little capital or a lot of capital?
The priciest items in our list of wholesale goods are products like:
- Computers
- Electronics
- Appliances
- Furniture
If you have limited capital, it might make better sense to go with cheaper items like party supplies or food and grocery items.
After examining your storage space and capital, you’ll better understand which product categories you can realistically consider.
With that said, here are the best items to sell in your wholesale business:
- Books
- Electronics
- Toys
- Brand name apparel
- Party supplies
These items are great to sell wholesale because they’re relatively small, which makes for easy storage in your home. They can also be lower priced, with the exception of some electronics. The market demand for these product categories is strong and there’s no seasonality which means you can sell year-round, without interruption in sales due to the season changing.
What are the best cheap wholesale products to buy?
The best cheap wholesale products to buy are usually smaller items, like:
- Fashion jewelry
- Beauty products
- Kitchen goods and accessories
- Electronics accessories
- Pet goods
Besides buying from cheap wholesale products categories, you can also focus on buying from places that don’t have a minimum order quantity. That’s a good way to spend less money on more expensive goods.
You can usually buy wholesale products without a minimum order quantity at wholesale marketplace websites like Aliexpress.
And you can also use tools like Jungle Scout or Helium 10 to find items to sell wholesale on Amazon!
Are there special requirements to buy wholesale?
Yes, there are special requirements to buy wholesale. You will usually be required to submit a copy of your business permit/license or documents that prove you’re operating as a business.
If you follow the steps shared above about how to start your wholesale business, you should already have the required documents when it’s time for you to buy your first lot of inventory.
Are you limited in selling wholesale items at home?
You’re limited in space. That’s about it.
Other than that, depending on the item, there’s usually no issue with storing goods in your home.
The Bottom line on Finding wholesale items to sell from home
Many people think the process of running your own online business selling wholesale items is challenging. It can be, but with a plan, you can run a successful operation as a supplier selling wholesale items from home.
In this post, we covered 29 wholesale products to sell from home. You learned about selling products as a wholesaler including:
- How to start an online business selling wholesale
- Benefits of selling wholesale products
- How to find wholesale suppliers
- The best wholesale goods to buy and sell and,
- How to buy wholesale
The bottom line is if you’re trying to source wholesale products to sell from home, you can do it. I hope this guide provided a clear overview of how to get started.
What wholesale products will you be selling?
For more related content be sure to check out Spencer’s ultra-successful case study selling on Amazon FBA.
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