Pick a business commodity—cleaning supplies, office supplies, printer consumables, linens, or any other item every business uses—and become the local expert. By aggregating demand across dozens of businesses, you negotiate better bulk rates while offering convenience, expertise, and freed-up storage space. The model works for any commodity where volume unlocks savings. Your network becomes an early warning system—when one customer discovers a product defect or quality issue, you can proactively switch everyone else off that item before it affects them.
Consider these related business ideas and specializations:
Pick a business commodity—cleaning supplies, office supplies, printer consumables, linens, or any other item every business uses—and become the local expert. By aggregating demand across dozens of businesses, you negotiate better bulk rates while offering convenience, expertise, and freed-up storage space. The model works for any commodity where volume unlocks savings. Your network becomes an early warning system—when one customer discovers a product defect or quality issue, you can proactively switch everyone else off that item before it affects them.
Consider these related business ideas and specializations:
San Juan Islands-specific considerations for this business:
Test this idea before investing heavily:
Pick one commodity (cleaning supplies, office supplies, etc.) and offer to handle the next order for 3-5 businesses. Aggregate their needs, find better pricing, and deliver. Track your time, the savings you achieved, and whether businesses want to continue.
Can you actually get meaningfully better prices? Will businesses trust you to manage this category? Is the margin worth your time? What do they value most—price, convenience, or expertise?
Businesses see real savings or time freed up, want to continue, and your margin covers your effort with room to grow.
Expected startup and operating expenses:
Areas where quality investment pays off:
Your value is knowing more about this commodity than your customers do. You should be able to recommend better products, spot quality issues, and advise on alternatives.
Good enough: Deep familiarity with major brands, quality tiers, and price points in your chosen commodity. You're the expert they call with questions.
Running out of cleaning supplies or receipt paper is an operational crisis for businesses. Your core value proposition is that they never have to worry about it.
Good enough: Simple but disciplined inventory tracking and reorder points. Doesn't need fancy software, but needs consistent execution.
Areas where cost-cutting makes sense:
Financial timing and planning notes:
Strategies to reduce risk and increase odds of success:
Join shomby today and start selling to your local community. We provide the platform—you bring the passion.
We build shomby around your business—not the other way around. If there's a feature, integration, or tool that would help your business commodity supplier business succeed, we want to hear about it.
Help busy families maintain clean, organized homes. Reliable cleaning services are always in demand, and professional organizers help clients transform cluttered spaces.
Maintain beautiful outdoor spaces for homeowners. From basic mowing to full landscape design, outdoor services offer flexible scheduling and recurring revenue.
Handle the home repairs that homeowners can't or don't want to do. A reliable handyman with diverse skills fills an essential need in every community.
San Juan Islands-specific considerations for this business:
Test this idea before investing heavily:
Pick one commodity (cleaning supplies, office supplies, etc.) and offer to handle the next order for 3-5 businesses. Aggregate their needs, find better pricing, and deliver. Track your time, the savings you achieved, and whether businesses want to continue.
Can you actually get meaningfully better prices? Will businesses trust you to manage this category? Is the margin worth your time? What do they value most—price, convenience, or expertise?
Businesses see real savings or time freed up, want to continue, and your margin covers your effort with room to grow.
Expected startup and operating expenses:
Areas where quality investment pays off:
Your value is knowing more about this commodity than your customers do. You should be able to recommend better products, spot quality issues, and advise on alternatives.
Good enough: Deep familiarity with major brands, quality tiers, and price points in your chosen commodity. You're the expert they call with questions.
Running out of cleaning supplies or receipt paper is an operational crisis for businesses. Your core value proposition is that they never have to worry about it.
Good enough: Simple but disciplined inventory tracking and reorder points. Doesn't need fancy software, but needs consistent execution.
Areas where cost-cutting makes sense:
Financial timing and planning notes:
Strategies to reduce risk and increase odds of success:
Join shomby today and start selling to your local community. We provide the platform—you bring the passion.
We build shomby around your business—not the other way around. If there's a feature, integration, or tool that would help your business commodity supplier business succeed, we want to hear about it.
Help busy families maintain clean, organized homes. Reliable cleaning services are always in demand, and professional organizers help clients transform cluttered spaces.
Maintain beautiful outdoor spaces for homeowners. From basic mowing to full landscape design, outdoor services offer flexible scheduling and recurring revenue.
Handle the home repairs that homeowners can't or don't want to do. A reliable handyman with diverse skills fills an essential need in every community.