Refrigerated van delivery for local food businesses

Small food producers, caterers, restaurants, grocery and specialty shops, farmers' market vendors and meal-prep companies without their own cold-chain vehicle.

Per delivery, per route or per load, with some regular clients paying a weekly or monthly rate. Fuel, insurance and van costs come out of what you charge.

• Reliable, safe driving
• Route planning and time keeping
• Care with food handling and temperature records

• Commercial auto insurance and cargo insurance, since personal auto cover usually does not apply to paid deliveries
• Food transport rules, such as the federal Safe Food for Canadians Regulations and provincial public health rules; check what applies to the goods you carry
• Whether your van's weight rating triggers provincial commercial vehicle or carrier registration, check with your provincial transport ministry
• Refrigeration unit breakdowns can spoil a load, so plan maintenance and a backup
• Winter driving and the need to keep goods from freezing as well as overheating

Startup costs are typically around $50,000 to $100,000, depending on the van, the refrigeration unit, insurance and how much you set aside for maintenance. Treat this as an estimate and get quotes for your own setup.

Monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $9,000, depending on how many clients you win, your routes and how many hours you work. These are estimates, not guarantees, and costs such as fuel and insurance come out of that.

Check that you have commercial auto and cargo insurance, since personal auto cover usually does not apply to paid deliveries. Also check food transport rules, such as the federal Safe Food for Canadians Regulations and provincial public health rules, and whether your van's weight rating triggers provincial registration.