Local tableware delivery for cafes and caterers

Independent cafes, food trucks, bakeries, takeaway shops, caterers and event organisers who find big wholesalers too slow or too large.

Buy in bulk, sell in smaller quantities at a higher margin, and add a delivery fee or minimum order. Standing weekly orders from regular customers give steady income.

• Building relationships with local businesses
• Stock and delivery planning
• Driving and lifting

• Check council rules if you plan to store stock at home, and whether a storage unit lease suits your volumes
• Public liability and product liability insurance, plus commercial vehicle cover if you use your vehicle for deliveries
• Tied-up cash in stock, avoid over-buying slow-moving lines
• Rules on single-use plastics differ by state and territory, check before stocking items that may be restricted
• Register for GST once turnover reaches the threshold

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on your stock levels, storage unit or garage setup and delivery vehicle. Avoid over-buying slow-moving lines, as cash can get tied up in stock.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how many cafes, caterers and event hosts you supply and how often. Treat these as estimates rather than guaranteed results.

Check council rules for storing stock at home, public liability and product liability insurance, and commercial vehicle cover for deliveries. Also check your state or territory's single-use plastics rules, and GST registration once turnover reaches the threshold.