Local soft drink distributor

Cafés, pubs, bottle shops, corner stores, delis, restaurants and event organisers who want reliable local delivery.

You buy at wholesale and sell at a markup per case or keg, with repeat weekly or fortnightly orders. Margins per case are modest, so volume and a tight delivery route matter.

• Selling and building relationships with venue owners
• Route planning and reliable driving
• Stock control and basic bookkeeping

• Public liability and goods-in-transit or vehicle insurance
• Storing stock at home may need council approval, so check with your local council
• Check whether your state's container deposit scheme affects how you buy or sell drinks
• Thin margins and cash flow tied up in stock, so watch payment terms
• Heavy lifting, so plan for trolleys or a tail-lift to avoid injury
• Check whether you need to register for GST once your turnover reaches the threshold

Startup costs are typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on your vehicle, how much stock you buy and your storage setup. These are estimates only. Cash tied up in stock is a key cost to plan for.

Monthly revenue is typically around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on how many venues you supply and how much you deliver. Margins can be thin and cash flow is tied up in stock, so watch payment terms. These are estimates only.

Check public liability and goods-in-transit or vehicle insurance, and whether storing stock at home needs council approval. Also check whether your state's container deposit scheme affects how you buy or sell drinks, and when you must register for GST.