Water filter supplier for restaurants and offices

Supply and maintain water filters for restaurants, cafes and offices on regular service contracts.

Startup cost$2k to $10k
Monthly revenue$1.5k to $7.5k
Time needed15+ h/week
First incomeMonths
  • $2k-10k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about

Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.

Official data

6,410 US businesses with employees in this field, -5.0% in a year

NAICS 423720 “Plumbing and heating equipment and supplies (hydronics) merchant wholesalers”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.

What it is

Supplying filters for ice machines, coffee and espresso machines, dishwashers and office water dispensers, and replacing them on a regular contract.

Your first three steps

  1. Learn which filters suit common ice, coffee and dishwasher equipment and get dealer pricing from suppliers
  2. Visit 20 nearby cafes and restaurants and ask who handles their filter changes now
  3. Create a simple service agreement with visit frequency, pricing and emergency call-out terms
Who pays

Restaurants, cafes, bars, offices, gyms and small hotels that rely on clean-tasting water and want to protect their equipment.

How it makes money

Recurring contract fees or per-visit pricing, plus markup on cartridges and occasional equipment installs.

Skills that help
  • Basic plumbing and equipment fitting
  • Selling to business owners and managers
  • Organized service scheduling
Watch out for
  • Check your state or local rules on plumbing work and whether a license is needed for commercial installs
  • General liability insurance, plus workers' compensation once you hire help
  • Work in food businesses may need to follow health department rules, so ask each client what is required
  • Late-paying clients, so agree payment terms in writing

Deep research report · US

Everything you need to start: filter supplier for restaurants and offices

Researched with live web search for United States: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.

  • Startup costs with real prices
  • Licences, registration and rules
  • Pricing: what others charge
  • Break-even example
  • Finding your first customers
  • 30-day launch plan
  • Risks and how to reduce them
Ready in about 2 minutes · one-off payment, tax included

See a full sample report

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start a commercial water filter supply business?

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on your tools, initial filter stock and insurance. Use this as a rough guide and get quotes for your own setup before you commit.

How much can a filter supplier for restaurants and offices earn?

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on how many restaurants, cafes and offices you serve on regular contracts. This is revenue, not profit, so account for your own costs.

What rules should I check before servicing restaurants and offices?

Check your state or local rules on plumbing work and whether a license is needed for commercial installs. Also check general liability insurance, workers' compensation once you hire help, and ask each food business client what health department rules apply.

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