Home-Based custom label printer

Farmers' market vendors, small food and drink producers, craft makers, home bakers and online sellers who need small batches.

A price per job based on label size, material and quantity, plus a fee for artwork set-up or changes. Repeat orders from regular customers add steady income.

• Basic graphic design software
• Attention to colour and detail
• Customer service
• Organizing orders and deadlines

• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and what your zoning allows
• Food and drink labels have rules on bilingual wording, ingredients, allergens and nutrition facts. Check with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and tell customers they are responsible for their content
• Quebec has French-language labelling requirements, so check before taking Quebec clients
• Check commercial general liability insurance and whether your home insurance covers business equipment
• Ink and label material costs can eat into margins on very small runs, so test pricing before quoting
• Check when you need to register for GST/HST

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on the printer, cutter and materials you choose. Ink and label material costs can eat into margins on very small runs, so test pricing before quoting.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $500 to $3,500, depending on how many customers you serve and the size of their runs. Testing your pricing first helps protect your margins on small batches.

Food and drink labels have rules on bilingual wording, ingredients, allergens and nutrition facts, so check with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Quebec has French-language requirements. Also check home-based licence rules, zoning and insurance.