Local produce box delivery

Busy households, families and offices that want fresh produce delivered without a trip to the shop.

Customers pay a set price per box, often by subscription, with extras and add-ons available. A delivery fee may be added for farther areas.

• Ordering and stock planning
• Packing and organising
• Route planning and driving
• Online ordering and customer messaging

• Check your municipality for home-based business licence rules and zoning
• Check with your local public health unit about permits and where produce can be stored and packed, as a home kitchen or garage may not be approved
• Commercial general liability and vehicle insurance covering business deliveries
• Cold storage is needed, especially in summer, and in winter protect produce from freezing during delivery
• Waste from unsold or returned boxes, so order against confirmed subscriptions
• Check GST/HST registration and provincial rules, including Quebec's French-language requirements

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,000 to $6,000, depending on your storage, packing supplies, vehicle needs and how much stock you buy to begin. Ordering against confirmed subscriptions helps limit waste.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on how many subscribers you have, box prices and your delivery area. That is revenue, not profit, and estimates suggest at least about 12 hours a week.

Check your municipality's home-based business licence and zoning rules, and ask your public health unit about permits and where produce can be stored and packed. Also check insurance, GST/HST registration and provincial rules, including Quebec's French-language requirements.