Bark and mulch bulk bag delivery business

Keen gardeners, allotment holders, small landscapers, garden designers and parish councils or schools needing smaller loads.

You sell each bag or load for more than you paid, with a delivery charge on top. Repeat orders from landscapers and seasonal spring and autumn peaks are the main income. Part-time hours keep revenue towards the lower end; the top of the range needs close to full-time hours and regular trade customers.

• Safe driving and loading
• Working out costs and margins
• Reliable customer service
• Basic local marketing

• Vehicle weight limits and whether your driving licence covers the vehicle you plan to use
• Public liability and goods in transit insurance
• If you carry any waste or recycled material yourself, check whether you need to register as a waste carrier
• Quality of recycled or composted products: ask suppliers for evidence of quality standards, and watch for contamination
• Heavy lifting and loading safety, plus a plan for wet-weather orders

Startup costs are typically around £2,500 to £12,000, depending on the vehicle, storage space and how much stock you buy at first. These are estimates, so get quotes from suppliers and insurers before you commit.

Check vehicle weight limits and whether your driving licence covers the vehicle you plan to use. Look into public liability and goods in transit insurance, and check whether you need to register as a waste carrier if you carry any waste or recycled material.

Monthly revenue is typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on your area, order sizes and how many days you deliver. The estimate assumes at least 15 hours a week. Work out your margins after stock and fuel costs.