Canning Your Drink — Here's What to Budget

You’ve got the idea. Maybe it’s a craft ginger beer, a cold brew, a fruit-infused water, or a signature juice blend. The big question is: what’s it actually going to cost to get it into a can and in front of customers?

Good news — it’s more accessible than you think.

Your biggest upfront cost is the can sealing machine. At Not Soda, our machines are designed for small businesses and entrepreneurs, not factory-scale operations. You’re not signing a lease or taking out a bank loan — it’s a once-off purchase that pays for itself quickly once you’re selling.

We supply clear PET cans — a major advantage over aluminium. No order placement nightmare. No custom tooling. Just order what you need, when you need it. A batch small enough to test at a market, or large enough to supply a small retailer — your call.

Foil lids seal each can cleanly and professionally. They’re low-cost per unit and give your product that premium, tamper-evident finish customers trust.

Once you factor in your can, lid, and product cost, most small-batch operators land somewhere between R5 and R9 per sealed unit depending on volume and what’s inside. Sell it for R25–R45 at a market or deli, and the margin speaks for itself.

• No commercial kitchen lease to start
• No training or certification
• No massive stock holding
• No industry connections

Just a product worth sealing, a machine, and the drive to sell it.

Starting a canned product business in South Africa is one of the lower-barrier food business ideas going right now. The trend is growing, the equipment is affordable, and the market is hungry for local, premium, sealed products.