15 Best Small Business Wholesale Suppliers for 2025

You've got the idea. You've checked the numbers. You've mapped out your business plan.

Now comes the big question: Where will you get your products?

Not every product-based business is also a manufacturer. In fact, many thriving online brands stock their shelves with goods from wholesale suppliers: buying in bulk at lower prices, customizing or branding them, then selling at a profit.

And the wholesale universe is booming. In the US alone, retail and wholesale together are expected to reach a staggering $92.6 trillion by 2025.

This is because product costs often are the biggest expense for new entrepreneurs—in a Shopify survey, 21% of business owners said inventory expenses like testing new products or handling returns can add up fast.

Ahead, you'll find 15 of the best wholesale suppliers for small businesses in 2025, plus tips to help you choose the right wholesale partner for your brand.

What are small business wholesale suppliers?

Small business wholesale suppliers are companies that sell products in bulk to other businesses, rather than selling directly to consumers. These suppliers can manufacture their own products or source goods from other makers, then sell them at wholesale prices—usually at a lower per-unit cost. Then, small retailers, ecommerce brands, and boutiques can then resell those wholesale products at a profit.

For small business owners, wholesale suppliers can be a cost-effective way to:

• Test new products without investing in manufacturing
• Keep shelves stocked with consistent inventory
• Offer a wider variety of goods without increasing production costs

Wholesale suppliers vs. wholesale distributors

Think of a wholesale supplier as the open market: You can browse, pick, and mix. They might make their own products, or they might source from multiple manufacturers. Either way, they sell in bulk at prices that give you room to breathe—and to profit.

A wholesale distributor on the other hand, is more like a VIP middleman with backstage access. Distributors usually have exclusive deals with certain manufacturers. That means they're the go-to (and sometimes the only) source for those products in your region.

Here's the quick difference between wholesale suppliers vs. wholesale distributors:

Why does this matter for small businesses?

If you're testing the waters, suppliers give you variety and flexibility. Want to trial five different candle scents this season? No problem—no one's locking you into a contract.

If you're scaling with a set product line, distributors offer stability. You get consistent supply, often with marketing support and regional pricing advantages baked in. The trade-off then is less freedom to shop around.

How to find small business wholesale suppliers

Your next bestselling product starts with the right supplier. Here's how to find them.

1. Get your initial options

Every search has a first click. For wholesale suppliers, that often means Google. Type in what you're looking for: "ceramic mug wholesale supplier California" or "organic skin care wholesale UK"—and you'll get a starting lineup of options. Filter your search by product type, industry, or location to surface suppliers that actually fit your niche instead of wading through irrelevant results.

But don't treat this list as the final word. From here, you'll dig deeper to compare pricing, quality, and reliability before making your shortlist of small business wholesale suppliers.

2. Vet your options

Not every wholesaler is legit, so you need to do some vetting beyond the first search results page.

Here's how:

• Search for the wholesale company name and add keywords like "reviews" and "scam" to your query: This will unearth any potential red flags early on.
• Visit the websites of the suppliers you found in your search results: Look for information about their products, pricing, and terms. Check if the supplier has a physical address and contact information. A legitimate business should provide transparent ways to get in touch.
• Read other online reviews and testimonials: This can give you insights into the experiences of other businesses that have worked with the supplier. Pay attention to both positive and negative feedback, as well as how (or if) the supplier has publicly engaged with that feedback. Those interactions can tell you a lot about what kind of vendor relationship you might have with that supplier.
• Look for any relevant certifications or affiliations with industry associations: These affiliations can be a sign of professionalism, credibility, and adherence to industry standards.

3. Contact the suppliers

Once you've done your initial research and vetting, it's time to reach out to the potential wholesale suppliers.

Send an email or give them a call to inquire about their products, pricing, and terms of doing business. Those negotiable terms should cover things like minimum order quantities (MOQs), lead time, payment terms, and shipping options. This initial contact will also help you gauge the supplier's responsiveness and willingness to work with you.

Ask for a sample or catalog of products, or create a wholesale account on their B2B ecommerce storefront. This will allow you to assess the quality and suitability of their products and service quality for your business.

For businesses interested in testing products without inventory commitment, consider exploring dropshipping suppliers as an alternative sourcing method.

4. Compare and choose

After you've reached out to a few wholesale suppliers, it's time to put them side by side. Compare their products, prices, minimum order requirements, and how quickly they respond when you have a question. Pay close attention to quality.

Weigh the pros and cons of each option, from service reliability to shipping speed, and choose the partner who best fits your business's goals, values, and growth plans.

15 best wholesale suppliers for small business

Find wholesale suppliers who can deliver—on quality, on price, and on time. Here are 15 top wholesale suppliers, including trusted wholesale distributors in the USA and global marketplaces that ship worldwide.

1. Shopify Collective

Best for: Small businesses that want to expand their product catalog quickly and reliably, without the risk or storage headaches of traditional bulk suppliers.

Shopify Collective lets you browse, source, and sell products from established Shopify brands, while they handle the packing, shipping, and fulfillment.

If you're a US-based merchant, install the Shopify Collective app right from your Shopify admin. From there, you'll have access to thousands of vetted products across industries like clothing, beauty, home, food and beverage, electronics—you name it.

Here's what you get:

• Each listing comes with product descriptions, wholesale pricing, supplier profiles, and average ratings from verified reviews. You'll even get personalized recommendations based on your store's vibe and audience.
• Adding products is quick. Pick what you want, connect with the supplier, and import the listings—complete with details and inventory counts—straight into your storefront. When customers check out, Shopify Payments handles it in a single branded cart. That means your shoppers can explore new brands without ever leaving the site they already trust.
• Collective also auto-calculates shipping, sends orders to your suppliers, and distributes payments once everything ships.

And returns go right back to the supplier. You stay inventory-free.

Suppliers set their own rates and destinations, and margins typically land between 20% and 40%. You can see the numbers before committing so you know exactly what you're working with.

💡Got products of your own? Flip the script: Become a supplier and let other retailers sell your products.

2. Faire

Best for: Small businesses looking to test trending wholesale products while minimizing risk.

In 2025, Faire's signature online trade show, Faire Market, hit record numbers: 85,000 retailers shopped the event—49% more than the previous year—ordering from an average of five different brands. In total, more than 1.1 million products changed hands.

Here's how Faire makes it easy to plug in:

• Browse curated collections—artisan, sustainable, and niche—backed by net-60 terms and free returns on your first order.
• Get region-specific product recommendations from built-in trend data, so you're not guessing what will sell.
• Join Faire Insider—100,000-plus members strong—to gain access to perks like free shipping, early product access, and estimated yearly savings of $2,100 on shipping costs, for just $19.99 per month.

💡Pro tip: Use the Faire: Buy Wholesale app if you're on Shopify: import products, sync inventory, and manage orders without leaving your dashboard.

3. AliExpress

Best for: Small businesses that want maximum product variety and ultra-competitive pricing.

China-based AliExpress is part of the Alibaba Group and offers a staggering catalog of more than 100 million products across virtually every category you can think of. Prices are often rock-bottom, shipping is available worldwide, and there are no order minimums or commission fees. That flexibility makes it easy to test products or source niche items without locking up cash in bulk orders.

AliExpress is especially popular with online sellers who want to test product ideas without committing to large inventory orders.

But, wholesale buyers, beware: AliExpress has very little centralized vetting or quality control. You'll find excellent suppliers—and you'll find duds. The key is doing your homework: Check seller ratings, read verified reviews, and order samples before committing.

Expect some trial and error before you land on a supplier who delivers both cost savings and consistent quality.

📚Read: Start Dropshipping on AliExpress: 2025 Playbook

4. DHgate

Best for: Merchants hunting for ultra-low wholesale prices across almost any category.

Another wholesale supplier based in China, DHgate has lower prices on a lot of wholesale products, but it's known for carrying a lot of replica goods. If that's not an issue for your business, it's worth digging through deals to see what you can unearth. It has a massive selection of products with options to suit any merchant and niche.

DHgate also uses an integrated rating system to help vet the right supplier for you. It ranks suppliers based on their reliability—an important factor to consider when comparing wholesale partners.

Still, it takes some effort to find reputable suppliers on DHgate, particularly if you're looking for authentic products. Be prepared to spend time ordering samples from a few suppliers before you land on the right one.

5. DollarDays

Best for: Nonprofits and budget-conscious businesses that need bulk pricing on everyday essentials.

Like AliExpress, DollarDays has something for just about every kind of business in every industry you can think of: baby products, pet supplies, personal care items, and more.

The difference with DollarDays is its focus on serving non-profit organizations with affordable pricing. That said, for-profit businesses can also purchase its wholesale goods.

DollarDays is one of many wholesale companies based in the US, and it serves small businesses all over the world. Like AliExpress, order minimums don't apply. It also has a dropshipping model so you don't have to personally manage the inventory you're reselling.

6. EK Wholesale

Best for: Small businesses in Europe looking for quality wholesale clothing with the option to launch a private label line without manufacturing costs.

Based in Scotland, EK Wholesale is a go-to for apparel, jewelry, and footwear at competitive wholesale prices. Orders over £250 ship free to the UK mainland, making it especially appealing for merchants looking to keep costs tight while stocking up.

Quality is EK's calling card. Its catalog leans heavily into clothing, everything from casualwear to outerwear, giving you a reliable source for products that don't feel like bargain-bin buys.

A standout perk is the ability to create your own private label clothing line without touching a factory floor.

7. IndiaMART

Best for: Businesses sourcing hard-to-find wholesale products in specialized industries like medical, chemical, industrial, or automotive.

IndiaMART is one of India's largest online B2B marketplaces, with a product range that goes well beyond standard consumer goods. Alongside everyday retail staples, you'll find categories that are notoriously tricky to source from other platforms—like industrial machinery, specialty chemicals, and automotive parts.

It's also one of the few wholesale platforms providing over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceutical dropshipping, giving health and wellness businesses a way to expand without handling sensitive inventory on-site.

8. Liquidation.com

Best for: Businesses looking for brand-name goods at below-retail prices through surplus and overstock auctions.

Liquidation.com sells surplus inventory from well-known brands across hundreds of categories—apparel, cosmetics, home goods, electronics, and more. Lots are sold through an online bidding system, where the highest bidder wins and takes the wholesale bundle home.

The auction model can be a thrill, but it comes with trade-offs. Inventory changes constantly, so you can't always rely on repeat sourcing for the same products. Pricing also shifts depending on competition from other bidders, which can make costs unpredictable.

For merchants comfortable with a bit of volatility, Liquidation.com offers a way to score deep discounts on brand-name merchandise. Just be ready to adapt your product mix as lots become available.

9. OrangeShine

Best for: Apparel and lifestyle retailers (especially women's fashion brands) looking for variety with predictable shipping costs.

OrangeShine connects merchants with wholesalers offering apparel, accessories, home goods, beauty products, and more. While its sweet spot is women's clothing and accessories, the platform also carries styles for men and children, plus a growing selection of home and lifestyle items.

Orders placed through OrangeShine ship at a flat rate, making costs easy to forecast—helpful when you're managing slim margins. The trade-off, however, is a fragmented tech stack: OrangeShine doesn't integrate directly with ecommerce platforms, so you'll need to manually upload product and inventory data if you're selling online.

10. SaleHoo

Best for: Small businesses that want a vetted supplier directory with both wholesale and dropshipping options.

Based in New Zealand, SaleHoo connects more than 8,000 small businesses with reliable suppliers around the world. The directory spans thousands of products across multiple categories, with international shipping available. Order minimums vary depending on the supplier.

For merchants leaning toward dropshipping, SaleHoo offers a dedicated program at $27 per month, backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

11. Tasha Apparel

Best for: Fashion retailers and dropshippers looking for trend-driven clothing at steep wholesale discounts.

Based in the US, Tasha Apparel sells bulk clothing without strict minimum order quantities—though most items come in packs of six. The catalog covers a wide range of sizes and styles, making it easy for different types of retailers to stock up on seasonal trends at 60% to 80% below retail prices.

Dropshippers get extra perks: Tasha Apparel allows you to use its product images, saving hours of photography and editing. Combined with bulk shipping rates and competitive wholesale pricing, that makes it possible to keep your store stocked with current styles while keeping margins healthy.

12. Tropical Labs

Best for: Retailers and entrepreneurs building a plant-based or organic personal care brand, with options for both ready-made and custom products.

Tropical Labs focuses on natural, plant-based personal care: skin creams, lotions, candles, shave gels, and hair care products. Everything is manufactured in-house, so you're working directly with the maker, not a middleman.

You can stock their existing catalog or go the private label route, adding your own branding to ready-made products. For something more custom, Tropical Labs offers research and development (R&D) services to help you develop entirely new formulations; ideal if you're carving out a niche or launching a signature line.

13. Wholesale7

Best for: Fashion retailers who want private label capabilities and dropshipping from a single source.

Wholesale7 is a marketplace for clothing, accessories, and beauty products, with pricing that rewards those willing to compare sellers and hunt for the best deals. Beyond everyday wholesale, it offers high-quality boutique clothing with custom logo design—your branding on both labels and product packaging. That gives you a fast track to launching a private label line without touching manufacturing.

For store owners running lean, Wholesale7 also supports dropshipping. Orders placed through your online store can ship straight to the customer, freeing up time and eliminating the need to manage inventory in-house.

14. Wholesale Central

Best for: Businesses that want a one-stop directory for wholesale suppliers across virtually every product category.

Wholesale Central lives up to its name: a center for all things wholesale. You can find products in virtually every category you can think of, including food and grocery, music, novelties, apparel, religious items, and even tools and hardware. International shipping is available, and order minimums vary.

To access wholesale pricing, you'll need a business ID and tax number, making it a good prompt to get your business registration in order if you haven't already. Once inside, you can search by category, keyword, or supplier name to start building your shortlist.

15. Worldwide Brands

Best for: Merchants who want long-term access to a massive, vetted directory of wholesalers and products.

Worldwide Brands offers access to more than 16 million products from suppliers across almost every category. The directory is built from trade show connections and direct relationships with manufacturers, so you're getting wholesale sources that have already been vetted for legitimacy.

Order minimums vary by supplier, but you'll need to pay a one-time membership fee to unlock the full directory. Once you're in, you can search by product type, niche, or location, making it easier to find suppliers that match your inventory needs and shipping requirements.

Dropshipping apps: An alternative to traditional wholesale

If managing inventory feels overwhelming or you want to test products without upfront investment, dropshipping apps offer a middle ground between wholesale purchasing and going it alone.

Unlike traditional wholesale where you buy and store inventory, dropshipping apps connect your store directly with suppliers who handle storage and fulfillment. When a customer places an order, the supplier ships directly to them.

Popular dropshipping apps for small businesses include:

• DropCommerce: Connects you with over 400 US and Canadian suppliers, offering 3-5 day shipping within North America and a minimum 30% retailer margin.
• Syncee: Provides access to more than 12,000 global brands, ideal for international sales with automated inventory synchronization.
• AI Dropship: Features US and EU suppliers with delivery under seven days for many locations, plus a free plan allowing up to 35 product imports.

The trade-off is lower profit margins compared to wholesale, but you eliminate storage costs, reduce financial risk, and can test products before committing to bulk orders.

Considerations for choosing a small business wholesale supplier

A great wholesale partner keeps products moving and your operations smooth. The wrong one will drain cash and force you into apology emails. Here's how to evaluate suppliers to keep your supply chain strong:

Price

Price is a starting point, not the full story. Before you get excited about a "too good to be true" deal, check what it really costs to get that product into your customers' hands.

Ask for a full quote including unit price, shipping, duties, and any extras. If they can't or won't give it, walk away.

TLC (Total landed cost)

TLC is the number that matters: It tells you the real cost of a product once it's on your shelf or in your customer's hands.

For example, a $5 product with $3 shipping and $2 in customs fees is a $10 product—not a $5 one. Miss that calculation and you'll risk pricing too low and watching your profit margin vanish.

Here's how you calculate your total landed cost:

TLC per unit = (Product cost + Shipping + Duties/Taxes + Brokerage fees + Currency conversion + Insurance) ÷ Units ordered

Get a true picture of your per-unit cost by following these steps:

1. Collect full quotes: Ask each supplier for:
   
   • Unit price in your currency
   • All shipping and handling fees
   • Duties/tariffs based on HS codes for your products
   • Customs brokerage charges (if applicable)
   • Any insurance or surcharges (e.g., fuel)
2. Convert to a common currency: If suppliers quote in different currencies, lock in a conversion rate for the comparison period. This keeps your math consistent.
3. Break down per-unit costs: Put everything into a spreadsheet so you can see the per-unit impact of each cost line.
4. Factor in lead time and risk: Cheaper TLC doesn't always win. For example, if Supplier A's goods take 45 days longer to arrive, you may lose sales or tie up capital in pre-orders.
5. Set your target margin: Once you've calculated TLC, apply your target markup to see if the numbers work for your market.

💡Pro tip: Keep your TLC sheet as a living document. Every time duties change, fuel surcharges spike, or your shipping volume grows, update it. This gives you a rolling, accurate picture of what you're really paying per unit.

Product range

When you source through a wholesale marketplace, variety takes care of itself. You can pull from multiple suppliers under one roof, each with distinct products and branding.

A single supplier with a wide product range can be just as valuable. If you already trust them for one category, adding their other products is faster, cheaper, and less risky than starting fresh with someone new.

But breadth isn't always the goal. If you're building a brand around high quality products—think handcrafted ceramics or premium organic skin care—you'll want a supplier that shares that focus.

If you're selling across multiple categories, prioritize suppliers (or marketplaces) with range and reliability.

If you're building a niche, high-quality product line, choose specialists who know their category inside out.

Location

Where your supplier is based is a decision that will hit your margins and your timelines.

If your bestsellers need to be in customers' hands next week, a 45-day sea freight route from Shenzhen won't cut it. If your margins are already thin, paying double for domestic production might be the thing that tips you into the red.

The trick is knowing which matters more for your business: speed or savings.

If you choose a domestic wholesale vendor:

• You're looking at shorter transit times and no customs delays. Plus, returns don't require international shipping paperwork.
• You also get a marketing edge: "Made in USA" or "Made in [Your Country]" can justify a higher price point.

But the trade-off is higher per-unit cost. For example, a $6 mug from a US supplier might cost $3.50 overseas, but you'll get it in three days instead of 30.

If you choose an international wholesale vendor:

• You'll have access to lower costs and more variety, as well as the ability to tap into specialized hubs—textiles from India, electronics from China, ceramics from Portugal—often at a fraction of domestic prices.
• You can also find suppliers who can handle high-volume orders more easily for when you plan to scale.

But the trade-off is longer lead times and more moving parts. Factor in shipping, customs clearance, and possible communication gaps when you're considering international suppliers.

And remember: If you're importing from overseas, you're also paying in time and compliance. Every country has its own import rules, tariffs, and paperwork. In the US, for example, you'll want to review the latest import regulations before you place a big order.

How to decide on the location for the best wholesale supplier for your business:

• List your must-have products and rank them by urgency: If a late delivery kills the sale (holiday items, seasonal fashion, perishables), lean domestic.
• Run the TLC math for both options: That $3.50 overseas mug might be $6.25 after shipping and duties—erasing the savings you'd hoped for from buying international over domestic.
• Test both: Source a small batch domestically and internationally at the same time. Track fulfillment time, quality, and total cost per unit; let the numbers make the call.

💡Pro tip: Some of the savviest merchants use a hybrid model: USA wholesale suppliers for fast-turn products and overseas partners for high-margin, slow-burn items. That way, you get speed where it counts and savings where it doesn't.

Shipping policies

Customers expect free shipping, and wholesale buyers aren't any different.

But "free" isn't really free; it's baked into the supplier's pricing. You need to know exactly how shipping is handled so you can build accurate landed costs and avoid profit surprises.

Here are a list of questions to ask your potential wholesale supplier:

1. Do you offer free shipping?
• Is it available on all orders or only above a certain order value?
• If there's a MOQ threshold, what is it? And does it align with my typical order size?
2. What's your flat-rate shipping option, if any?
• Does it cover all regions or are there exceptions?
• Is the rate per order, per pallet, or per item?
3. Which carriers do you use, and can I choose my own?
• Do you offer expedited or express shipping options when needed?
4. What's your average order-to-ship time?
• Can you commit to a maximum turnaround during peak seasons?
5. Are there regional surcharges or exclusions?
• Do you ship to PO boxes, APO/FPO addresses, or remote areas?
6. Is tracking included?
• Will I get live tracking updates I can pass to customers?
7. Is shipping insurance available for high-value orders?
• Who's responsible for damages or losses in transit?
8. Do you consolidate shipments?
• If I order from multiple product lines, will they arrive together or in separate deliveries (and at separate costs)?

Log the answers in a supplier comparison sheet. Sometimes a slightly higher per-unit cost is worth it if the supplier ships faster, includes insurance, and eliminates surprise freight charges.

Order minimums

Minimum order quantities (MOQs) shape how much cash you tie up in inventory and how much storage space you need to free up. Too high, and you risk overstocking on untested products. Too low, and you might pay more per unit than you should.

Match your order size to your sales velocity. If you sell 100 units per month, a 1,000-unit MOQ means you're holding 10 months of stock—and paying for the storage and cash flow impact that comes with it.

And don't forget to ask about order maximums. It's rare, but some suppliers have a cap on how much they can fulfill in a single order or a specific timeframe. If you anticipate scaling fast or running promotions, make sure they can handle the spike in demand.

Reputation and reviews

A supplier's track record is as important as their pricing. One missed shipment or bad batch can undo months of good work.

Vet your wholesale supplier:

• Read reviews from verified buyers: Not just testimonials on the supplier's own site. Look for consistent feedback on product quality, communication, and fulfillment speed.
• Ask for documentation: Request business licenses, certifications, or proof of compliance for your industry. Legitimate suppliers will have these ready.
• Order a small test batch: See how they handle packaging, delivery timelines, and customer service when something goes wrong.
• Check their industry presence: Suppliers that exhibit at trade shows, participate in marketplaces, or hold memberships in industry associations tend to have more credibility.

Find reliable wholesale suppliers for your business today

Finding a wholesale supplier is the easy part. Finding one you can trust with your margins, your timelines, and your brand takes work. But it's work worth doing, because you can't sell what you don't have.

Start with suppliers who know your niche. Vet them. Order samples. Run the numbers. Negotiate terms that make sense for your cash flow.

The right choice here sets the pace for everything else in your business.