Early-Morning dairy round for cafes

Independent cafes, bakeries, small grocers, delis and small restaurants that want reliable deliveries in smaller quantities than the big distributors offer.

You buy at wholesale and sell at a slightly higher price, plus a delivery fee for smaller drops. Regular standing orders from the same customers make your income predictable.

• Reliable early starts
• Route planning
• Keeping accurate orders and invoices
• Customer service

• Check with your provincial agriculture or health authority whether you need a dairy distributor or food business licence or permit
• Milk must be kept cold the whole time and the rules for this vary by province, so check what temperature records you need
• Selling raw (unpasteurized) milk is generally not permitted in Canada, so check before stocking anything
• Commercial general liability and vehicle insurance that covers business deliveries
• Margins can be thin and customers may pay late, so check payment terms before you deliver
• Winter driving and early starts

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $2,000 to $8,000, depending on your vehicle, insulated coolers, insurance and any permits. Margins can be thin, so check customers' payment terms before you deliver.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $2,000 to $9,000, depending on how many cafes and shops you supply and your order sizes. Plan for at least about 12 hours a week, mostly early mornings.

Check with your provincial agriculture or health authority whether you need a dairy distributor or food business licence or permit. Also check cold-chain temperature record rules, that raw milk is generally not permitted, and insurance covering business deliveries.