If you sell to hobbyists, you already know the pattern: they buy a bind-and-fly, crash it, and come back for arms, motors and propellers. The reseller who stocks those in the right ratio keeps the customer. This guide is about picking a build platform you can support, not about flying.
Start from the frame
Pick the frame first and the rest of the bill of materials falls out of it. A 5-inch freestyle frame dictates motor size, propeller pitch, ESC current and battery cell count. If you stock two frame platforms instead of eight, your spare-parts inventory gets dramatically cheaper to run.
Attach rate you can plan against
| Component | Per 100 drones sold | Expected annual reorder |
|---|---|---|
| Propellers (sets) | 150-200 | Very high — treat as a consumable |
| Motors | 110-140 | High — crash and burn-out replacement |
| Arms | 60-90 | Medium, but the sale is high-margin |
| ESCs | 25-40 | Medium |
| Flight controllers | 15-25 | Low, but the sale is high-margin |
| Frames (complete) | 10-20 | Low |
Planning ratios used by Ruistart customers when deciding stock depth. Your own sales history will differ by market.
Common questions from new resellers
Should I stock analogue or digital video?
Stock both, but weight digital. Analogue is still where the cheapest beginner kits sit, while digital air units carry far better margin per order. A 70/30 split in favour of digital matches what our customers report.
How many SKUs do I need to open a shop?
Two frame platforms, six motor SKUs covering those platforms, four propeller SKUs, two ESC stacks and two radio families will support most beginner and mid-level customers.
What is the usual MOQ?
One piece on almost everything in this catalogue. Price breaks start at ten pieces and the best breaks are at 500.
