Refrigerated van delivery for local food businesses

Cafes, restaurants, caterers, small food producers, butchers, wholesalers and online food sellers who don't have their own cold delivery vehicle.

Per delivery, per run or per load, often with regular weekly contracts. Some jobs are charged by distance, pallet space or hourly rate, with extra for early starts or urgent runs.

• Reliable, safe driving
• Route planning and punctuality
• Understanding temperature control and food handling
• Customer service and basic bookkeeping

• Food transport rules: check with your state food authority and local council about what applies to carrying food, including temperature records
• Your driver licence class must suit the vehicle's weight, so check with your state road authority
• Commercial vehicle and goods-in-transit insurance, plus public liability
• Refrigeration breakdowns can spoil a load, so check who is liable and keep a maintenance routine
• Fuel, servicing and vehicle repayments can eat into margins, so cost each run carefully
• Registering for GST once you reach the turnover threshold

Startup costs are typically around $25,000 to $80,000, depending on whether the van is new or second-hand and its refrigeration setup. Monthly revenue is estimated at around $4,000 to $15,000, depending on your runs, customers and rates. Fuel, servicing and repayments affect margins.

Check with your state food authority and local council about carrying food, including temperature records. Check that your driver licence class suits the vehicle's weight with your state road authority. Check commercial vehicle, goods-in-transit and public liability insurance, and GST registration once you reach the turnover threshold.

Estimates suggest at least around 20 hours a week, depending on your runs. Useful skills include reliable, safe driving, route planning, punctuality, temperature control and food handling, customer service and basic bookkeeping. Check who is liable if refrigeration fails and spoils a load.