Van-Based wholesale supplier to local shops

Independent convenience stores, milk bars, small grocers, cafes, school canteens and petrol station shops that don't get large-distributor service.

You earn the margin between your buy price and your trade price, so volume and repeat orders matter. Regular weekly or fortnightly drops build steady turnover.

• Negotiating with suppliers
• Route planning and reliable delivery
• Basic bookkeeping and stock control

• Margins on many goods are thin, so check your costs per drop before committing to a route
• Cash flow: shops may want 14 to 30 day terms while suppliers want payment sooner
• Check with your local council and state food authority whether storing or selling packaged food needs registration or premises approval
• Public liability and goods-in-transit or van insurance
• Avoid or check the rules for tobacco, vapes and alcohol, which are heavily restricted and licensed in Australia
• Check whether storing stock at home is allowed under your council's home-based business rules

Estimates typically put startup costs at around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on the van, your opening stock and the storage space you use. Cash flow matters, as shops may want 14 to 30 day terms while suppliers want payment sooner.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on the size of your route and the products you carry. Margins on many goods are thin, so check your costs per drop before committing to a route.

Check with your local council and state food authority whether storing or selling packaged food needs registration or premises approval. Tobacco, vapes and alcohol are heavily restricted and licensed. Also check home-based business rules for storing stock, plus public liability and van insurance.