Part-time delivery route for local suppliers

Deliver small orders from local makers and wholesalers to shops, offices and homes on a set schedule.

Workers loading pallets of goods onto a delivery van at a warehouse.
Startup cost$300 to $1.5k
Monthly revenue$500 to $2.5k
Time needed8+ h/week
First incomeWeeks
  • $300-1.5k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about

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

Official data

46,302 US businesses with employees in this field, +1.9% in a year

NAICS 484110 “General freight trucking, local”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.

What it is

A small scheduled delivery service using your own car or SUV. You collect orders from a few local suppliers, such as bakeries, florists, print shops or craft producers, and deliver them to their business customers on set days.

Your first three steps

  1. Make a list of 15 to 20 local suppliers that deliver to customers in your county and visit or email them with a simple price per stop
  2. Call your insurance agent about coverage for delivering goods for pay, then set up a basic mileage and income tracking sheet
  3. Run a two-week trial route for one or two suppliers and ask for a written testimonial
Who pays

Small local suppliers and wholesalers who don't have their own drivers, and sometimes the shops and offices receiving the goods.

How it makes money

A flat fee per stop or per route, or a weekly retainer from each supplier. Adding a few suppliers whose customers are in the same area makes each route more worthwhile.

Skills that help
  • Reliable and punctual
  • Route planning
  • Careful handling of goods
  • Clear communication with business owners
Watch out for
  • Personal auto insurance often excludes carrying goods for pay, so check whether you need commercial auto or a delivery endorsement
  • Check with your city or county about a local business license and your state's rules for registering a sole proprietorship or LLC
  • Goods you carry may be damaged or lost, so check what cargo or liability cover you need
  • Wear and tear on your own car adds up, so set your rates to cover fuel, maintenance and depreciation

Deep research report · US

Everything you need to start: part-time delivery route for local suppliers

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 local delivery route?

Startup costs are typically around $300 to $1,500, depending on your setup. Because you use your own car, set your rates to cover fuel, maintenance and depreciation, since wear and tear adds up over time.

How much can a part-time delivery route earn?

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $2,500, depending on how many suppliers you serve and how many delivery days you run. Treat this as a rough estimate, not a promise.

Do I need special insurance or a license for a delivery route?

Check first: personal auto insurance often excludes carrying goods for pay, so ask about commercial auto or a delivery endorsement. Also check with your city or county about a local business license, your state's registration rules, and what cargo or liability cover you need.

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