Local catering supplies shop

Restaurants, cafés, food trucks, caterers, bakers and event companies, plus home cooks and community groups buying for events.

Markup on goods sold. Regular trade customers who reorder disposables and smallwares give steady sales, and special orders and equipment add larger one-off sales.

• Knowledge of kitchen equipment
• Buying and stock control
• Building relationships with trade customers

• Commercial general liability insurance, plus cover for stock and premises
• Check zoning, signage and business licence requirements with your municipality before signing a lease; a retail premises usually needs a municipal business licence before you open
• Gas and electrical equipment may need recognized safety certification (such as CSA or ULC marks); check what you can legally sell
• Register for GST/HST and any provincial sales tax; in Quebec check French-language requirements for signs and labelling
• Stock ties up a lot of cash, and large chains and online sellers compete on price

Startup costs are typically around $40,000 to $150,000, depending on your premises, fit-out and opening stock. Monthly revenue is typically around $12,000 to $50,000, depending on your customer mix. These figures are estimates only.

Check zoning, signage and municipal business licence requirements before signing a lease. Also check which gas and electrical equipment you can legally sell, such as CSA or ULC marks, register for GST/HST and provincial sales tax, and in Quebec check French-language rules.

You need knowledge of kitchen equipment, buying and stock control, and the ability to build relationships with trade customers. Estimates suggest at least around 40 hours a week, and stock ties up a lot of cash.