How to start a wholesale retail business in Europe
Starting to buy wholesale as a retailer means registering as a business first (most suppliers only sell to a registered company), then choosing suppliers by category and checking each one's own registration before ordering. Minimum order quantities differ from supplier to supplier — there is no single figure that applies across a category.
Register as a business before you approach a supplier
Most wholesale suppliers sell only to a company, not to a private individual — a registered business name, a VAT number where one applies, and a trading address are the usual minimum a supplier asks for.
Requirements differ by country: some ask only for a national trade registration, others also want a valid EU VAT number for intra-EU purchases. A local chamber of commerce or tax office gives the exact steps for a given country.
Having this paperwork ready before the first supplier contact avoids a delay at the point a supplier is otherwise ready to sell.
Choose suppliers by category, then check each one
A wholesale directory grouped by category — clothing, cosmetics, electronics and so on — is a starting point for finding suppliers that actually sell what a retailer plans to stock.
Once a shortlist exists, the registration check described in WholesaleX's own supplier guide applies to any supplier, from any source: its EU VAT number through VIES, or its national company register outside the EU.
A supplier's own website is also worth reading closely for delivery countries, order process and contact details before the first message is sent.
Minimum order quantities are set by each supplier, not by a category
A minimum order quantity, where a supplier sets one, reflects that supplier's own production run, packaging or shipping cost — not a rule of the category it sells in.
Two suppliers of the same kind of product can set very different minimums; the only reliable figure is the one a specific supplier states for its own range, usually on request or in its terms of sale.
Asking directly, in writing, before committing to a first order avoids assuming a number that turns out to apply to a different supplier entirely.
Categories such as clothing, cosmetics and electronics are grouped on all categories
The registration check every listed supplier goes through is explained in full on How we check suppliers
The same EU VAT number check used there is also free to run directly on the EU VAT number checker
Questions
Do I need to register a company before buying wholesale?
Most wholesale suppliers only sell to a registered business, so registering first — even as a small or sole trader business, depending on the country — is usually the first practical step.
Is there a standard minimum order quantity for wholesale?
No. A minimum order quantity is set by each individual supplier, based on its own production and shipping costs, and varies widely even within the same category.
How do I find suppliers for a specific product category?
A category-organised wholesale directory is one starting point; from there, each shortlisted supplier's own registration is worth checking before a first order.
What should I check before contacting a new supplier?
Its business registration (an EU VAT number checked with VIES, or a national company register outside the EU), its delivery countries, and its order process — all usually stated on the supplier's own website.
General information, not legal or tax advice.