Online dried fruit and nut store

Home cooks and bakers, health-minded shoppers, gift buyers, and small offices ordering snacks.

You sell packs at a markup over wholesale cost, add shipping fees or free-shipping thresholds, and offer subscriptions and bulk bundles for repeat orders.

• Online selling and basic marketing
• Packing and labelling
• Stock and order management
• Customer service

• Food premises approval for where you pack; many home kitchens are not allowed for repackaging, so check with your health unit
• If you send food between provinces or import it, check whether you need a Safe Food for Canadians licence
• Bilingual labelling and allergen declarations; check with the CFIA
• Shipping costs, delays and heat in summer, which can affect quality
• GST/HST registration once you pass the small supplier threshold, and product liability insurance

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on your stock, packing setup and the niche you choose, such as baking, keto or office snack boxes.

Check food premises approval for where you pack with your health unit, as many home kitchens are not allowed for repackaging. Also check whether you need a Safe Food for Canadians licence when sending food between provinces or importing, plus bilingual labelling and allergen declarations with the CFIA.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around $1,000 to $6,000, depending on your niche, stock and marketing. Plan on at least about 12 hours a week. Shipping costs, delays and summer heat can affect quality, so factor them in.