# Suppliers, Inventory, Fake Vendors and Maintenance Questions

Suppliers, Inventory, Fake Vendors and Maintenance Questions: plain answers to 6 common small business owner questions, with official sources checked October 2026 and links to deeper guides.

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Updated: October 6, 2026

Compare delivery fees and minimums against your own time. Track inventory with par levels and set reorder days, and choose vendors for reliability. Check that a supplier is real before you pay. Keep a maintenance schedule for each piece of equipment. Rules vary by state and city, so confirm requirements with the official agency.

## How do I compare delivery costs?

Compare delivery fee, frequency, minimums for free delivery, delivery windows and your own pickup time and fuel. Your own pickup time has a cost; include it when comparing.

## How do I track inventory?

Start simple: a spreadsheet with item, unit, par level, on hand and reorder point, counted on a fixed day each week. Counting regularly reveals waste and helps you order the right amount.

Go deeper: Suppliers and inventory

## How do I choose a wholesale vendor?

Compare product range, price consistency, delivery reliability, payment terms and service. Start with one or two vendors and track issues. Review vendor performance every few months and keep a backup option.

## How do I avoid fake supplier websites?

Check the business address and reviews from independent sites, be wary of prices far below market and wire-transfer-only payments, and confirm the domain matches the company name. When in doubt, call the company using a number found independently and pay by card for buyer protection.

## What maintenance should I plan?

List each piece of equipment, the manufacturer's maintenance schedule and the vendor for service, and record each service date. Preventive maintenance usually costs less than emergency repairs and downtime.

## How do I create a reorder checklist?

List items you reorder, the par level, supplier, lead time and who places the order, then check it on a fixed weekly day. Assign one person responsible for ordering to avoid duplicates or gaps.

## Worked example

A café sets par levels for coffee, milk, cups and pastries in a simple spreadsheet and counts every Monday. Orders go to two vendors chosen after comparing delivery reliability and minimums. When a website offers espresso machine parts at half price with wire transfer only, the owner calls the manufacturer's listed dealer instead and avoids a likely scam. A maintenance log lists each machine, the manufacturer's schedule, the service vendor and each service date, which helps avoid a breakdown during the morning rush.

## Common questions

### How do I compare delivery costs?

Compare delivery fee, frequency, minimums for free delivery, delivery windows and your own pickup time and fuel.

### How do I track inventory?

Start simple: a spreadsheet with item, unit, par level, on hand and reorder point, counted on a fixed day each week.

### How do I choose a wholesale vendor?

Compare product range, price consistency, delivery reliability, payment terms and service. Start with one or two vendors and track issues.

## Sources

- SBA: Buy assets and equipment: https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/manage-your-business/buy-assets-equipment
- FTC: Advertising and marketing guidance: https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/advertising-marketing

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