Bottled water delivery route
Deliver large water bottles to homes and offices on a regular route, buying stock from an established bottler.
- C$6k-30k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
You buy sealed 18.9 L (5-gallon) bottles, and possibly smaller cases, from a licensed bottler or wholesaler, then deliver them to homes and small offices on a set schedule. You may also supply or rent out coolers.
Your first three steps
- Contact local bottlers and wholesalers to compare wholesale prices, minimum orders and whether they have territory rules
- Choose a tight delivery area and call a few nearby offices and clinics to gauge interest and what they pay now
- Price a used van or cargo vehicle, hand trucks and commercial insurance, then work out how many bottles per week you need to cover costs
Who pays
Households that prefer bottled water, small offices, clinics, trades yards, construction sites and rural homes with poor tap or well water.
How it makes money
A margin on each bottle delivered, plus bottle deposits, cooler rental or sales, and sometimes a delivery fee. Regular weekly or biweekly customers make the income steadier.
Skills that help
- Reliable driving and route planning
- Lifting and handling heavy bottles safely
- Friendly customer service
- Basic bookkeeping and invoicing
Watch out for
- Commercial general liability and commercial vehicle insurance; check that your auto policy covers business delivery
- Whether your municipality requires a business licence, and a home-based business licence if you store stock at home
- Check with your provincial or local public health unit whether reselling sealed bottled water needs any permit, and where you may store it
- Heavy lifting and back strain; consider a hand truck, a lift gate or a ramp
- Winter driving, icy driveways and frozen stock if you store bottles in an unheated space
- Collect GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold; check with the Canada Revenue Agency
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: bottled water delivery route
Researched with live web search for Canada: 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 water delivery route?
Startup costs are estimated at typically around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on your vehicle, how much stock you buy from a bottler or wholesaler, and whether you supply coolers. Equipment like a hand truck or lift gate may add to this.
How much can a bottled water delivery route earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the size of your route, customer mix and delivery schedule. These are revenue estimates, not profit, and winter driving can affect your days.
What rules should I check before delivering bottled water?
Check with your provincial or local public health unit whether reselling sealed bottled water needs any permit, and where you may store it. Also check municipal and home-based business licences, commercial general liability and vehicle insurance, and GST/HST with the Canada Revenue Agency.
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