Hay and bedding delivery service
Buy hay and shavings from local growers and deliver to horse owners and small farms.
- $3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
9,322 US businesses with employees in this field, +3.1% in a year
NAICS 424910 “Farm supplies merchant wholesalers”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
You buy hay, straw and bagged bedding in bulk from nearby growers and mills, then deliver it to barns, boarding stables and hobby farms with a truck and trailer. You hold little or no stock, so you mostly buy to order.
Your first three steps
- Visit local hay growers and feed stores, ask about wholesale prices, quality grades and how they sell by the bale or ton
- Price out a used truck and flatbed or gooseneck trailer, and get a quote for general liability and commercial auto insurance
- Post in local horse and farm groups and at boarding barns offering a first delivery at a fair price, then ask for referrals
Who pays
Horse owners, boarding stables, hobby farmers, goat and sheep keepers, and backyard livestock owners who can't haul bulk loads themselves.
How it makes money
You earn the margin between what you pay the grower and your delivered price per bale or per ton, plus a delivery or stacking fee. Repeat customers who reorder every few weeks are the core of the business.
Skills that help
- Comfortable with heavy lifting and loading
- Safe truck and trailer driving
- Building relationships with growers and customers
- Basic bookkeeping and pricing
Watch out for
- Commercial auto and general liability insurance, check that your personal auto policy won't cover business hauling
- Weight limits, trailer requirements and possible commercial driver rules for heavier loads, check your state DMV and DOT
- Check whether your state requires a license or registration for selling hay or feed, and whether sales tax applies
- Hay quality risks such as mold, dust or weeds in the bales, inspect every load and keep records of where it came from
- Prices swing with weather and drought, so avoid fixed long-term prices without a supply agreement
- Fire risk if you store hay, keep it dry and check insurance terms
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: hay and bedding delivery service
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
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a hay delivery business?
Startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your truck and trailer, insurance, and how much hay and bedding you buy to order from local growers and mills.
How much revenue can a hay delivery service make?
Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on your number of customers, delivery area and the season. Prices swing with weather and drought, so avoid fixed long-term prices without a supply agreement.
What rules should I check before delivering hay?
Check commercial auto and general liability insurance, and whether your personal auto policy excludes business hauling. Also check weight limits, trailer requirements and possible commercial driver rules with your state DMV and DOT, plus any hay license or sales tax rules.
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