Home-Based wholesale basket supplier

Florists, gift hamper makers, small gift and home decor shops, event planners and wedding businesses.

You buy at wholesale or factory prices and sell at a trade markup, with minimum order sizes and discounts for repeat customers.

• Sales and building trade relationships
• Organising stock and orders
• Basic bookkeeping and pricing

• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and whether you can store stock at home
• If you import, check CBSA duties and customs rules, and whether natural fibre or wood baskets need plant health checks through the CFIA
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold, and check provincial sales tax rules for resale
• Commercial general liability and stock insurance, since home insurance may not cover business stock
• Demand is seasonal (spring, Christmas, Mother's Day), so plan cash flow and storage

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $1,500 to $6,000 CAD, depending on how much stock you buy and the range you carry. Check that you can store stock at home and that your insurance covers it.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $1,000 to $5,000 CAD, depending on your trade customers and order sizes. Demand is seasonal, with peaks in spring, Christmas and Mother's Day, so plan your cash flow.

Things to check: whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence; CBSA duties and customs rules if you import; whether natural fibre or wood baskets need CFIA plant health checks; and GST/HST and provincial sales tax rules for resale.