Local paper delivery supplier

Small print shops, copy centres, offices, schools, community groups and resellers who want reliable local delivery without ordering full pallets.

You earn the difference between your bulk buying price and your selling price per case or ream, plus a delivery fee on small orders. Repeat orders from a steady customer list matter most.

• Selling to businesses
• Organising stock and deliveries
• Comfortable with lifting and driving
• Basic bookkeeping

• Margins can be thin and paper prices change, so check your costs before quoting
• Check whether your municipality allows stock storage at home and review fire safety for stored paper
• Commercial general liability and business-use vehicle insurance, check with your broker
• Register for GST/HST when required and check provincial rules on sales tax
• Late-paying business customers, consider credit checks or deposits for new accounts
• Heavy lifting, use trolleys and a tail-lift or ramp where possible

Estimates put startup costs at typically around $8,000 to $30,000, depending on your vehicle, the amount of paper stock you buy, storage space and insurance. Check your costs carefully, as margins can be thin and paper prices change.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue of typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how many customers you supply and the order sizes. Revenue is not profit, so check your buying costs and delivery expenses before quoting.

Check whether your municipality allows stock storage at home and review fire safety for stored paper. Also check commercial general liability and business-use vehicle insurance, GST/HST and provincial sales tax rules, and credit checks or deposits for new accounts.