Heating oil ordering service for your area

Rural households wanting a fair price and an easy way to order, plus suppliers who pay for the extra orders you bring them.

You take a commission or margin per litre ordered, or a small fee per order. Pooling several neighbours into one delivery run can earn a volume deal from the supplier.

• Negotiating with suppliers
• Building a local customer list
• Clear, friendly customer communication
• Basic website and admin skills

• Be clear with customers about price, who they are contracting with and who handles problems with delivery
• Check consumer law requirements on pricing information, cancellations and complaints
• You will hold customer data, so check your UK GDPR duties and whether you need to register with the ICO
• Check whether handling customer payments needs any financial or trading approvals, or use the supplier's own payment system
• Your reputation depends on the supplier's delivery, so choose suppliers carefully and consider whether a trade body membership helps
• Prices change frequently and margins can be thin, so test the numbers before you promise a price

Startup costs are typically around £300 to £3,000, depending on your website, ordering tools and how much you spend finding local customers. These are estimates, and margins can be thin, so test your numbers before promising a price.

Monthly revenue is typically around £400 to £3,000, depending on how many households order through you and the fee you agree with suppliers. This is an estimate of revenue, not profit, and heating oil prices change frequently.

Check consumer law on pricing information, cancellations and complaints, and your UK GDPR duties and whether you must register with the ICO. Be clear who customers contract with, and check whether handling payments needs approvals or use the supplier's payment system.