Cookie Shop with a Small Storefront

Local residents, office workers, students, and businesses or families ordering for events and gifts.

Counter sales of individual cookies and boxes, plus larger orders for offices, weddings and parties, and online or delivery app orders.

• Commercial-scale baking
• Running a shop and managing stock
• Hiring and managing staff
• Budgeting and pricing

• Food premises permit and health inspections from your local public health unit
• Commercial lease terms and fit-out costs, which can be the biggest expense
• Commercial general liability and property insurance, and WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire staff
• Business licence and signage rules from your municipality
• Ingredient price changes and slower winter foot traffic in some areas
• In Quebec, check French-language rules for signs and labelling

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $25,000 to $100,000, depending on your lease terms and fit-out, which can be the biggest expense. Ingredient price changes and slower winter foot traffic in some areas are worth budgeting for.

Check the food premises permit and health inspections from your local public health unit, commercial lease terms, business licence and signage rules from your municipality, insurance and WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire staff, and in Quebec, French-language rules for signs and labelling.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on walk-in sales plus any custom orders, catering and delivery. The estimate assumes at least about 40 hours a week, and winter traffic may be slower in some areas.