diff --git a/processor/batchprocessor/batch_processor.go b/processor/batchprocessor/batch_processor.go
index 6ffc878d583..3ad07597bec 100644
--- a/processor/batchprocessor/batch_processor.go
+++ b/processor/batchprocessor/batch_processor.go
@@ -61,12 +61,19 @@ type batchProcessor struct {
 
 	telemetry *batchProcessorTelemetry
 
-	//  batcher will be either *singletonBatcher or *multiBatcher
+	// batcher will be either *singletonBatcher or *multiBatcher
 	batcher batcher
 }
 
+// batcher is describes a *singletonBatcher or *multiBatcher.
 type batcher interface {
+	// start initializes background resources used by this batcher.
+	start(ctx context.Context) error
+
+	// consume incorporates a new item of data into the pending batch.
 	consume(ctx context.Context, data any) error
+
+	// currentMetadataCardinality returns the number of shards.
 	currentMetadataCardinality() int
 }
 
@@ -135,12 +142,13 @@ func newBatchProcessor(set processor.Settings, cfg *Config, batchFunc func() bat
 		metadataLimit:    int(cfg.MetadataCardinalityLimit),
 	}
 	if len(bp.metadataKeys) == 0 {
-		s := bp.newShard(nil)
-		s.start()
-		bp.batcher = &singleShardBatcher{batcher: s}
+		bp.batcher = &singleShardBatcher{
+			processor: bp,
+			single:    nil, // created in start
+		}
 	} else {
 		bp.batcher = &multiShardBatcher{
-			batchProcessor: bp,
+			processor: bp,
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -172,8 +180,8 @@ func (bp *batchProcessor) Capabilities() consumer.Capabilities {
 }
 
 // Start is invoked during service startup.
-func (bp *batchProcessor) Start(context.Context, component.Host) error {
-	return nil
+func (bp *batchProcessor) Start(ctx context.Context, _ component.Host) error {
+	return bp.batcher.start(ctx)
 }
 
 // Shutdown is invoked during service shutdown.
@@ -281,11 +289,18 @@ func (b *shard) sendItems(trigger trigger) {
 // singleShardBatcher is used when metadataKeys is empty, to avoid the
 // additional lock and map operations used in multiBatcher.
 type singleShardBatcher struct {
-	batcher *shard
+	processor *batchProcessor
+	single    *shard
+}
+
+func (sb *singleShardBatcher) start(context.Context) error {
+	sb.single = sb.processor.newShard(nil)
+	sb.single.start()
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (sb *singleShardBatcher) consume(_ context.Context, data any) error {
-	sb.batcher.newItem <- data
+	sb.single.newItem <- data
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -295,8 +310,8 @@ func (sb *singleShardBatcher) currentMetadataCardinality() int {
 
 // multiBatcher is used when metadataKeys is not empty.
 type multiShardBatcher struct {
-	*batchProcessor
-	batchers sync.Map
+	processor *batchProcessor
+	batchers  sync.Map
 
 	// Guards the size and the storing logic to ensure no more than limit items are stored.
 	// If we are willing to allow "some" extra items than the limit this can be removed and size can be made atomic.
@@ -304,13 +319,17 @@ type multiShardBatcher struct {
 	size int
 }
 
+func (mb *multiShardBatcher) start(context.Context) error {
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (mb *multiShardBatcher) consume(ctx context.Context, data any) error {
 	// Get each metadata key value, form the corresponding
 	// attribute set for use as a map lookup key.
 	info := client.FromContext(ctx)
 	md := map[string][]string{}
 	var attrs []attribute.KeyValue
-	for _, k := range mb.metadataKeys {
+	for _, k := range mb.processor.metadataKeys {
 		// Lookup the value in the incoming metadata, copy it
 		// into the outgoing metadata, and create a unique
 		// value for the attributeSet.
@@ -327,7 +346,7 @@ func (mb *multiShardBatcher) consume(ctx context.Context, data any) error {
 	b, ok := mb.batchers.Load(aset)
 	if !ok {
 		mb.lock.Lock()
-		if mb.metadataLimit != 0 && mb.size >= mb.metadataLimit {
+		if mb.processor.metadataLimit != 0 && mb.size >= mb.processor.metadataLimit {
 			mb.lock.Unlock()
 			return errTooManyBatchers
 		}
@@ -335,7 +354,7 @@ func (mb *multiShardBatcher) consume(ctx context.Context, data any) error {
 		// aset.ToSlice() returns the sorted, deduplicated,
 		// and name-downcased list of attributes.
 		var loaded bool
-		b, loaded = mb.batchers.LoadOrStore(aset, mb.newShard(md))
+		b, loaded = mb.batchers.LoadOrStore(aset, mb.processor.newShard(md))
 		if !loaded {
 			// Start the goroutine only if we added the object to the map, otherwise is already started.
 			b.(*shard).start()