Decide your bottles and deposit model
Most water businesses run on refillable 19L bottles with a deposit. Decide your deposit amount and how many bottles you can afford to put in the field, because that capital is what limits your customer count early on.
Map zones before you take customers
Group your service area into zones and decide which days you serve each one. Tight zones mean shorter routes, less fuel, and predictable delivery days that customers can rely on.
Set pricing and a recovery rhythm
Price per bottle, decide if you sell on credit, and set a clear day to collect. Cash on delivery keeps things simple at the start; credit needs a ledger you actually maintain.
Put it on software from day one
Even with 30 customers, a system that tracks routes, empties, and balances saves you from rebuilding records later. Starting on software is far easier than migrating off a notebook at 300 customers.
FAQ
- How much capital do I need to start a water delivery business?
- The largest early cost is bottles and deposits in the field, plus a vehicle and initial stock. Software and routing are a small fraction of that, but they protect the bottle and cash assets that make up most of your investment.