Mineral water distributor with a small warehouse

Hotels, restaurant groups, office managers, grocery and convenience stores, and event venues that order regularly in volume.

You buy by the pallet at wholesale price and sell by the case or pallet with a markup. Larger accounts and standing orders bring steadier income, and you can add other drinks later.

• Business-to-business sales
• Stock control and ordering
• Managing a driver or small team
• Basic bookkeeping and invoicing

• Check with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency whether you need a Safe Food for Canadians licence, especially for imports or interprovincial sales
• Check with your local public health unit and municipality about food storage and zoning for your unit
• Commercial general liability, vehicle and cargo insurance, plus WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire (rules vary by province)
• Lease commitments and unsold stock are the main financial risks, so avoid overbuying early on
• Producers may already have distributors in your region, so check territory terms
• Deposit and recycling rules vary by province, and Quebec has French-language requirements

Startup costs are typically around $80,000 to $250,000, depending on your warehouse lease, delivery vehicle, opening stock across several brands and insurance.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $10,000 to $50,000, depending on how many hotels, restaurants, offices and shops you supply and the volumes they order. Expect at least about 35 hours a week.

Check with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency about a Safe Food for Canadians licence, and with your local public health unit and municipality about food storage and zoning. Also check insurance, territory terms with producers, and provincial deposit and recycling rules.