Craft soft drinks supplier for local venues

Delis, farm shops, independent cafés, gastropubs, festivals, markets and wedding or event organisers.

You buy by the case from producers or their wholesalers and sell at a higher trade price per case. Event and seasonal orders can add larger one-off sales.

• Spotting and presenting interesting products
• Selling and building relationships
• Organising orders and deliveries
• Basic bookkeeping

• Check with your local council whether you need to register as a food business, particularly if you store stock
• If you store stock at home, check your lease, mortgage and home insurance first
• Public liability and product liability insurance, plus cover for goods in your vehicle
• Check how the Soft Drinks Industry Levy applies to the products you buy and sell
• Stock tied up in slow-selling lines, so start small and track best-before dates
• Event demand is seasonal and can be unpredictable

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £7,000, depending on the range and quantity of stock you buy and how you deliver. Starting small helps avoid money tied up in slow-selling lines.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on the venues you win and the events you supply. Event demand is seasonal and can be unpredictable, so revenue may vary from month to month.

Check with your local council whether you need to register as a food business, and how the Soft Drinks Industry Levy applies to products you buy and sell. If you store stock at home, check your lease, mortgage and home insurance, plus public liability and product liability cover.