Chinese grocery pre-order and delivery

Households and students who live far from a Chinese supermarket, or who want fresh and specialty items delivered.

Margin on products plus a delivery fee or minimum order. Orders placed in advance mean less waste than stocking a shop.

• Organising orders and delivery routes
• Building a community through social media or messaging groups
• Supplier negotiation
• Clear communication in English and Chinese languages

• Check with your local public health unit what is allowed for storing and selling food, especially refrigerated and fresh items, as home storage may not be permitted
• Labelling rules for prepackaged food, including bilingual requirements, and extra rules in Quebec
• Commercial general liability insurance and cover for your vehicle being used for business
• Cold chain: keep chilled and frozen goods at safe temperatures during delivery, especially in summer and winter
• Check whether you need a home-based business licence, and register for GST/HST once you pass the threshold

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $3,000 to $15,000 CAD, depending on your stock, storage and delivery setup. It can work as a way to test demand before renting a shop.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $2,000 to $10,000 CAD, depending on how many customers you build and how often you deliver. Keeping chilled and frozen goods at safe temperatures matters in summer and winter.

Things to check: with your local public health unit what is allowed for storing and selling food, as home storage may not be permitted; labelling rules including bilingual and Quebec requirements; vehicle insurance for business use; and any home-based business licence.