Small produce wholesale unit with cool room
Run a small unit with cold storage, buying in bulk and supplying grocers, caterers and food businesses.
- A$50k-150k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
You rent a small warehouse or unit with a cool room, buy produce in volume from markets and growers, and pack and sell it to a wider range of trade customers. A step up from a van-only round.
Your first three steps
- Price up local units with cool room space or the cost of installing one, and check the lease allows food storage
- Line up at least a handful of committed trade customers and agree volumes before signing a lease
- Set up supplier accounts with markets or growers and talk to an accountant about GST and pricing
Who pays
Independent grocers, caterers, restaurants, school and aged care kitchens, and other small food businesses.
How it makes money
Margin between your bulk buying price and your trade price, with larger regular orders and some value-added lines like pre-cut or boxed produce.
Skills that help
- Buying and negotiating with growers and traders
- Stock rotation and managing waste
- Managing staff and delivery drivers
- Bookkeeping and cash flow management
Watch out for
- Food business registration with your local council and any food safety supervisor or HACCP-style requirements, check with your state authority
- Cool room running costs, equipment breakdowns and spoilage risk
- Workers compensation insurance once you hire staff, plus public and product liability insurance
- Large customers paying late can squeeze cash flow, so check credit terms before extending them
- Council zoning for the unit and any rules on early morning truck movements
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: small produce wholesale unit with cool room
Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a produce wholesale business?
Startup costs are typically around $50,000 to $150,000, depending on your unit, cool room and stock. These are estimates, and cool room running costs and equipment breakdowns are worth planning for.
How much can a small produce wholesaler earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $20,000 to $100,000, depending on how many trade customers you supply. Large customers paying late can squeeze cash flow, so check credit terms before extending them.
What rules should I check before starting a produce wholesale unit?
Check food business registration with your local council and any food safety supervisor or HACCP-style requirements with your state authority. Also check council zoning for the unit, rules on early morning truck movements, and workers compensation and liability insurance.
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