Online baking supply shop

Home bakers, hobby cake makers, small home-based food sellers and parents baking for birthdays.

You buy wholesale and sell at a markup. Income comes from product margin, bundles and kits, and orders that add up through repeat customers.

• Knowing baking and decorating products
• Organizing stock and orders
• Online selling and photography
• Customer service

• Check whether you need a GST/HST account once sales pass the small supplier threshold, and how provincial sales taxes apply
• Check municipal rules for running a home-based business and for storing stock at home
• Food ingredients and food colours may have labelling or import rules, so check with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• Shipping costs for heavy or fragile items can eat into your margin
• Check product liability insurance and whether your home insurance covers business stock
• Quebec sales may need French-language product information and website content

Startup costs are typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how much stock you buy, how you set up your website and how focused your niche is. These are estimates, so build your own budget before you buy stock.

Check whether you need a GST/HST account once your sales pass the small supplier threshold, and how provincial sales taxes apply. Also check municipal home-based business rules and, for food colours, labelling or import rules with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Monthly revenue is typically around $500 to $5,000, depending on your range, marketing and order volume. This is revenue, not profit, and shipping costs for heavy or fragile items can eat into your margin. Plan for at least about 8 hours a week.