Plywood and sheet goods delivery service

Remodelers, framers, small builders, cabinet and furniture makers, and homeowners doing larger projects who don't want to haul 4x8 sheets themselves.

You mark up the materials and add a delivery fee. Repeat contractors who order weekly make the income steadier than one-off homeowner orders.

• Knowing panel grades and uses (CDX, sanded, MDF, marine, etc.)
• Safe driving and loading
• Pricing and quoting
• Building relationships with contractors

• Commercial auto and general liability insurance, since personal auto policies often exclude business deliveries
• Truck or trailer weight limits: a load of sheet goods is heavy, so check your vehicle's rated payload
• Your state's sales tax registration and resale certificate rules, and your city or county business license
• Thin margins and slow-paying contractors, so check credit terms before offering an account
• Composite wood products may have formaldehyde labeling or compliance rules, so ask your suppliers what applies
• Lifting and handling heavy sheets can cause injuries, so plan for equipment and help

Startup costs are typically around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on your truck or trailer, insurance and how much stock you carry. You can work from home with little or no stock on hand.

Monthly revenue is typically around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on how many contractor accounts you build and the size of their orders. Margins can be thin and some contractors pay slowly, so check credit terms before offering an account.

Check commercial auto and general liability insurance, since personal auto policies often exclude business deliveries. Also check your vehicle's rated payload, your state's sales tax registration and resale certificate rules, and your city or county business license.