Local cleaning supplies delivery round

Cleaning firms, landlords, small hotels and B&Bs, takeaways, care homes, small shops and offices that want a reliable local supplier.

You earn the margin between your trade buying price and your selling price. Repeat orders on a weekly or monthly cycle and a tidy delivery route keep costs down.

• Selling and building trade relationships
• Organising stock and delivery routes
• Careful, safe handling of products
• Basic bookkeeping

• Public liability and product liability insurance, plus goods in transit cover; check the policy covers chemical products
• Rules on labelling, safety data sheets and selling products that are classed as hazardous (CLP); check with Trading Standards or the HSE
• Disinfectants and some other products may fall under biocide rules, check what you are allowed to sell
• Storage and carrying limits for hazardous goods in a van, and whether your landlord or insurer allows chemicals in your storage unit
• Do not decant or mix products unless you can label them correctly
• Large wholesalers may undercut you on price, so build on service and convenience

Startup costs are typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on how much stock you buy and the van and storage you need. Treat this as an estimate and get quotes before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically around £1,500 to £7,500, depending on how many trade customers you win and the size of their orders. The estimate assumes at least around 15 hours a week of work.

Check labelling, safety data sheets and hazardous product rules (CLP) with Trading Standards or the HSE. Also check biocide rules for disinfectants, insurance that covers chemical products, and storage and van carrying limits for hazardous goods.