Plywood delivery to job sites

Contractors, renovators, joiners and small builders who want sheets delivered on time without losing a half day to pick them up.

You mark up the product and add a delivery charge. Regular trade customers and repeat orders matter most.

• Driving and loading a truck or trailer
• Quoting and invoicing
• Knowing panel grades and uses
• Reliable scheduling

• Commercial auto insurance and commercial general liability, personal vehicle cover may not apply to deliveries
• Payload limits, load securing and any commercial vehicle rules, check with your provincial transport authority
• Thin margins, since fuel and your time can eat the profit on small orders
• Storage space for stock, which must stay dry, and any home-based business rules from your municipality
• Winter driving, wet or snowy loads and seasonal slowdowns in building
• Back and lifting injuries, use proper equipment and plan for help with heavy loads

Estimates suggest startup costs typically run around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on the truck or trailer, the opening stock and your storage space. Your own costs will vary, so get vehicle and supplier quotes first.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on order sizes, delivery area and how many contractors you serve. The estimate assumes at least 20 hours a week. Fuel and time can eat into profit on small orders.

Check commercial auto insurance and commercial general liability, since personal vehicle cover may not apply to deliveries. Also check payload limits, load securing and commercial vehicle rules with your provincial transport authority, and any home-based business rules for storage.