Milk and grocery delivery van route
Run a refrigerated van on several daily routes, delivering milk, dairy and groceries to a growing base of subscribers.
- C$15k-60k
- Full-time
- Out and about
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A full-time delivery business with a refrigerated or well-insulated van covering a wider area across the week. You offer milk, dairy, eggs, bread and other local grocery add-ons, with an online ordering page for subscribers.
Your first three steps
- Line up supply agreements with one or more local dairies and producers, and agree prices, delivery to you and bottle returns
- Price a used refrigerated or insulated van and ask your public health unit what permits and inspections apply
- Build a subscriber list with a simple website, local social media and flyers in your first routes, and aim for a minimum number of stops per route before expanding
Who pays
Households across a town or suburb on weekly subscriptions, plus some small cafés, offices and daycares that want regular dairy drops.
How it makes money
Margin on each product plus delivery fees or minimum orders. Larger baskets, grocery add-ons and a dense route make each stop more profitable.
Skills that help
- Driving and route planning
- Stock and cold-chain management
- Basic bookkeeping
- Customer service
Watch out for
- Check with your local public health unit about food permits, vehicle inspection and any storage premises you rent
- Check provincial dairy rules and use only licensed, pasteurized suppliers
- Commercial vehicle insurance and commercial general liability insurance
- WCB or WSIB coverage if you hire drivers, with rules that differ by province
- Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold, and check how it applies to your products
- Fuel, van repairs, winter conditions and spoiled stock can quickly eat into margins
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: milk and grocery delivery van 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 milk and grocery delivery van route?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on the van and refrigeration, any rented storage, your first stock and your online ordering page.
How much can a delivery van route earn?
Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around $5,000 to $20,000, depending on your route size, subscriber numbers and product range. Fuel, repairs, winter conditions and spoiled stock can eat into margins, so keep a close eye on costs.
What rules should I check before running a dairy delivery van?
Check with your local public health unit about food permits, vehicle inspection and rented storage, and use only licensed, pasteurized suppliers under provincial dairy rules. Also check commercial vehicle and liability insurance, WCB or WSIB if you hire drivers, and GST/HST registration.
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