After powering millions of deliveries — including hundreds of thousands of cannabis deliveries — we’ve found that delivering cannabis is a lot like delivering . . . well, anything else. Okay, so the Fed does still consider it a highly dangerous schedule one drug, and the laws vary widely depending on where you are in California, but hopefully we’ll get some clarity come November election season. *fingers crossed emoji*
Seriously though, it’s gotten incredibly easy to start a cannabis delivery company!
- Get a license
- Find a quality, consistent supply
- Hire drivers (or outsource)
- Select a menu ordering system
- Connect menu to Onfleet
Five steps, one incredibly productive software, a whole lot of product market fit and BOOM, you can now make on-demand (or scheduled) cannabis deliveries.
- Get a license to deliver cannabis. This is arguably the most difficult step, so I’ll spend the least amount of time on it 😉. There are some fantastic resources out there that outline this process better than I ever could. Guides from NORML and Americans for Safe Access are a good start. You should also talk to a lawyer. Just make sure you’re legal! (It’s kinda important.)
- Find a consistent supply of quality cannabis to sell. Unfortunately, this is still a slightly sketchy and unregulated process (again *fingers crossed emoji* for November). The holy grail of supply is of course to be vertically integrated. Grow, transport, sell; farm-to-table all under one umbrella. Companies like Flow Kana have come close, but legislation will dictate if this will ever be fully possible.
- Hire Drivers. Until drones become mainstream and take over our skies, you’ll need drivers. Like most On-Demand startups, you can try your luck on craigslist, use a third party that sources drivers, or try to enlist your Uber or Lyft driver. In any case, drivers will need to be licensed cannabis patients, have a valid driver’s licenses, clean records, reliable vehicles, and up-to-date insurance.
- Select a menu ordering system. There a lot of options to choose from, but not a lot of good options. My personal favorites (and those that have built integrations with Onfleet) include:
- Meadow: Highly recommended and MUCH more than a menu system. Including a full marketplace to drive customers to you, brick & mortar dispensary management software, and doctors who make house calls. Sticky Guide: Perhaps the most beautifully designed menu system. Simple, and easy to plug into your website. For inspiration, check out The Green Cross’ version.MJ Freeway: Nice menu with a slick Leafly integration, allowing customers to view independent ratings and descriptions of each strain.
- 5. Connect menu to Onfleet. Now for the easy part. If you have selected one of the menu systems from the last section, getting your tasks into Onfleet, assigned to a driver, and to your customer’s door is seamless. No coding required.Your customers will be treated to an unrivaled cannabis delivery experience including real-time tracking, continuous status updates, and easy communication with the driver. If you’d like to learn more and start your 30-day free trial, one of us would be happy to walk you through the product. You can request a demo here, or by emailing sales@onfleet.com.
It’s easy to see why so many cannabis delivery options have popped up. Five simple steps is an incredibly low barrier to entry for what could be a very profitable business. While starting a cannabis delivery company may be simple, developing and maintaining a customer base is not. Like any startup, the cannabis companies that put an emphasis on quality product and stellar customer service will endure.