The first wholesale order is the one that teaches you that revenue and cash are different things. You buy the materials in March, you do the work in April, and you get paid in May. A good order can leave you short of money for two months, and a business that has only ever sold direct has never felt that gap.

It is still the order worth having. Once one buyer has reordered, you have a channel rather than a customer. The point of this step is to get the first one through without it hurting, and that mostly comes down to two decisions made before you accept it.

Work out whether you can fund it. Materials and labour go out before anything comes in, and on net 30 terms the money arrives six to eight weeks after you start spending.

Then decide what you will ask for. A deposit on a first order is normal and most buyers expect to be asked. Not asking is a choice to finance their stock yourself.