Most wholesale applications end with the same line, usually in bold: attach your resale certificate, or this account will not be processed. That one line is where new resellers lose weeks. Nobody gives you the full list before you start, so you find out what's missing one rejection at a time. The good news is that the list is short. A registered business, an EIN, a resale certificate, a bank account, and sometimes a local license. This guide walks through each one, what the application itself asks for, and the order that saves you the most time.
What Does Opening a Wholesale Account Actually Require?
Start with the biggest confusion. The "wholesale license" people search for doesn't exist as one document you can apply for. What most states actually issue is a reseller permit tied to your sales tax registration, and Alaska is the only state with a license that officially carries the wholesale name, handled at the local level.
So opening a wholesale account really means two things stacked together. First, the government paperwork that makes you a legitimate resale business. Second, the distributor's own application, which they review and approve a bit like a small credit decision. The checklist below covers both.
Wholesale Account Requirements: The Documents You Need
A registered business entity. Most serious resellers form an LLC. It takes about a week in most states, and it usually pays for itself with the first account you open. Some suppliers do accept sole proprietors, so an LLC isn't always mandatory, but you'll need the tax documents below either way. And if you already run a registered business, check this one off and move on. Our guide on business licenses for wholesale resellers covers what your state expects.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to open a wholesale account: Requirements
The account itself is usually free. The documents are the cost, and it's small. The EIN is free, and a resale certificate is free or under $50 in most states.
Can I use someone else's resale certificate?
No. The certificate has to be issued to your business, in your legal name, matching your EIN. Borrowing one fails verification and creates tax problems for both sides.
How long does it take to open a wholesale account?
A few days to about a month for the paperwork, depending on your state. Distributor review is separate and varies by supplier.
What is a minimum opening order?
TB
The B2B SupplierHub Team
Wholesale & sourcing
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An EIN. This is your federal tax ID, and almost every real distributor asks for it on the application and the W-9. It's free on the IRS website, takes about five minutes, and you get the number immediately. Never pay a third party to file it for you. Get it before you apply anywhere, because most applications can't move forward without it.
A resale certificate. The document that lets you buy inventory without paying sales tax, because you'll collect it from your customers instead. Names vary by state (seller's permit, sales and use tax permit, resale certificate), you apply through your state's Department of Revenue, and most states issue it free or for under $50. Timing runs from same-day in some states to a few weeks in others. The full details, from the permit you need first to renewals, are in our guide to resale certificates and sales tax permits.
A business bank account. Many suppliers want payment from a business account, and it keeps your paperwork consistent when they verify you. Open it as soon as the EIN is in hand.
A general business license, sometimes. This one depends on where you live. Some states and cities require a license just to operate, separate from your resale certificate, and larger distributors often ask for it alongside your EIN. Check your city and county rules once, so it never surprises you mid-application.
What a Wholesale Application Asks For (Including Minimum Orders)
A wholesale application isn't a signup form. A real one asks for your company name and address, your website, your phone and email, your EIN, your resale certificate number, a short description of your business, your estimated monthly order volume, and a primary contact. Many also ask for trade references, and some require three. And the resale certificate must be attached, just like that bold line from the top of this post says. If you miss it, the application doesn't get processed.
There's also a money side that surprises people. Documents alone don't open every door. Many distributors set a minimum opening order, so your first purchase has to clear a certain dollar amount, and new accounts usually prepay by card, wire, or ACH. Payment terms like net 30 come later, after you've built some order history. Each distributor sets its own minimum, so ask for the number in writing and plan the cash before you apply. Our list of questions to ask a distributor before your first order covers exactly what to confirm.
Why Wholesale Applications Get Rejected (5 Common Mistakes)
No trade references. New resellers get stuck here more than anywhere else. If you don't have references yet, say so plainly and offer something else instead: your marketplace seller account and feedback score, your store URL, your business bank details. Most suppliers accept a substitute. What kills the application is leaving the section blank and hoping nobody notices.
Documents that don't match. Your entity name, EIN, resale certificate, and bank account should all show the exact same business name. Mismatched paperwork slows verification and makes a new account look risky.
Assuming your resale certificate has to be accepted. It doesn't. A supplier can look at your certificate, decide the purchase doesn't fit your stated business, and charge you sales tax anyway. Even some large retailers decline them. A valid certificate gets you considered. It doesn't guarantee approval.
Marketplace and storefront restrictions. Some brands and distributors require a physical location, and some restrict selling on third-party marketplaces. Ask before you apply, so you don't spend weeks opening an account you can't actually use. A two-minute email about their marketplace policy saves you that time.
One note if you sell on Amazon. Amazon's wholesale approval and ungating are a separate process from the distributor's application. Amazon expects a Professional selling plan and a valid EIN, and clearing a distributor's review doesn't clear Amazon's.
And if a distributor has already turned you down, that needs a different approach: our guide on how to reopen a rejected distributor application covers how to fix your application and try again.
The Right Order to Do It (and How Long Each Step Takes)
Do it in this order, because each step feeds the next.
Register your business entity.
Get your EIN the same day. It's instant.
Apply for your state's resale certificate.
Open the business bank account, set up a business email, and put up a simple website.
Gather your document pack: EIN letter, resale certificate PDF, and references or their substitutes.
Apply to the distributor and attach the certificate.
Expect the paperwork to take anywhere from a few days to about a month, and your state decides most of that, because the resale certificate is the one document you'll actually wait on. Everything else moves fast. Keep in mind that the distributor's review only starts once your application is in, and that part runs on their schedule. Ask upfront how long approval usually takes, so you're not left guessing at the end.
The Bottom Line: Get the Documents Ready, Then Pick Suppliers
None of this is complicated once you see the whole list. A handful of documents, one application, everything in the same business name. Most rejections come down to a blank reference field or a missing certificate, and now you know how to avoid both.
The bigger question comes after the paperwork: which suppliers are actually worth applying to? That's what B2B Supplier Hub is for. Search the product free and see the wholesale cost, real stock, and retail price from distributors in our network before you apply anywhere. Compare the numbers first, spend your application effort on the suppliers that deserve it, and connect when you're ready.
The smallest first purchase a distributor will accept from a new account, set as a dollar amount. It differs by distributor, so ask for the number up front and make sure your budget clears it.
Do I need an LLC to open a wholesale account?
Not always. Some suppliers accept sole proprietors. You'll still need an EIN and a resale certificate either way, and an LLC is the safer standard if you're building a real sourcing business.
