Niche bike parts and accessories wholesaler

Independent bike shops, small repair shops and cycling-focused retailers across your province or region.

You buy at wholesale prices and sell to shops at a margin. Revenue grows with the number of shops that reorder, and from minimum order sizes and seasonal pre-orders.

• Relationship building with shop owners
• Inventory tracking and ordering
• Knowing bike parts and what shops need
• Basic bookkeeping and invoicing

• Stock ties up your cash, and shops may expect payment terms, so check how you will handle unpaid invoices
• Bike sales are seasonal in most of Canada, so plan cash flow around the winter slowdown
• Check import duties, customs rules and whether any products (such as lithium batteries) have special shipping requirements
• Check product safety rules for what you sell, and get product liability and commercial general liability insurance
• Check whether your municipality allows storing and shipping stock from a home-based business
• In Quebec, check French-language requirements for packaging and price lists

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on the range you stock and how much inventory you buy. Monthly revenue is estimated at about $4,000 to $20,000, depending on how many shops you supply.

Check import duties and customs rules, and whether products such as lithium batteries have special shipping requirements. Check product safety rules, get product liability and commercial general liability insurance, and check whether your municipality allows home storage. In Quebec, check French-language requirements.

Plan on at least about 15 hours a week as an estimate. Bike sales are seasonal in most of Canada, so plan cash flow around the winter slowdown. Shops may expect payment terms, so check how you will handle unpaid invoices.