Home and office water delivery route

Households, small offices, clinics, gyms, job sites and churches that want water delivered on a schedule.

You earn the margin between your wholesale cost and your delivery price. Add a delivery fee, a cooler rental, or a monthly subscription for regular drops.

• Reliable driving and route planning
• Lifting and handling heavy jugs
• Friendly customer service and basic bookkeeping

• Check with your state and county health or agriculture department whether distributors of bottled water need a registration or permit
• General liability and commercial auto insurance, since personal auto policies often exclude delivery work
• Heavy lifting: 5-gallon jugs are heavy, so plan for back strain and consider a hand truck or liftgate
• Check your city or county for a local business license and sales tax registration with your state

Startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your setup, stock and equipment. These are estimates only, so get quotes from bottlers, distributors and insurers before you commit to a budget.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on how many regular customers you serve and how often you deliver. That figure is revenue, not profit, and it is an estimate rather than a promise.

Check with your state and county health or agriculture department whether bottled water distributors need a registration or permit. Also check your local business license, state sales tax registration, and insurance, since personal auto policies often exclude delivery work.