Bagged ice delivery for bars and events

Bars, restaurants, caterers, food trucks, event planners, wedding venues and festival organizers.

You buy ice at a wholesale price and sell it at a higher price per bag or block, plus a delivery fee for small or rush orders. Standing weekly orders from bars and caterers give steady income, and summer events add extra.

• Reliable driving and timekeeping
• Lifting and handling heavy loads
• Building relationships with local venues

• Packaged ice is treated as food, so check with your state or county health department whether you need a food business or wholesale registration
• Check if storing ice at home or in a garage is allowed, including zoning and HOA or lease rules
• General liability and commercial auto insurance, ask whether your policy covers product and delivery risks
• Ice melts quickly in summer heat, plan your routes and storage to avoid waste
• Demand is seasonal in many areas, so keep a cash cushion for slow months

Startup costs are typically around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on your vehicle, cold storage, initial ice purchases and insurance. These are estimates, so get quotes for a freezer and delivery vehicle suited to your route.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how many bars, caterers and event customers you serve. Demand is seasonal in many areas, so keep a cash cushion for slow months.

Packaged ice is treated as food, so check with your state or county health department about food business or wholesale registration. Also check zoning and HOA or lease rules for storing ice, and whether your insurance covers product and delivery risks.