Local milk and dairy delivery route

Households in your area who want fresh local dairy delivered, such as busy families, older people and people who prefer local food.

Customers pay a recurring subscription or per-order price. You earn the margin between the wholesale price from the dairy and what you charge, plus any delivery fee and bottle deposits.

• Reliable and punctual
• Route planning
• Customer service
• Basic bookkeeping

• Rules for selling and transporting milk differ by state, so check with your state department of agriculture or health department about permits for reselling dairy
• Cold chain: milk must stay at safe temperatures, so check what refrigeration or insulated cooler requirements apply
• General liability and commercial auto insurance, and check whether your personal car policy covers deliveries
• Raw milk sales are restricted or banned in many states, so check before offering it
• Check your city or county for a business license

Startup costs are typically around $1,000 to $6,000, depending on your vehicle setup, coolers or insulated boxes, and opening stock. Costs vary with whether you use returnable glass bottles.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $800 to $4,000, depending on how many households subscribe and how large your route is. That is revenue before dairy purchases, fuel and insurance.

Rules for selling and transporting milk differ by state, so check with your state department of agriculture or health department about permits for reselling dairy. Also check refrigeration requirements, raw milk restrictions, insurance and your city or county business license.