Home-based goldfish and tank supplies seller

Local families and hobbyists wanting healthy, well-cared-for goldfish and the right equipment from someone who can advise them.

Margin on fish sold, plus supplies and starter kits. Selling a few higher-value fancy goldfish can bring in more per sale than common ones.

• Fish keeping and water testing
• Clear online listings and photos
• Customer service and advice

• Check with your municipality whether a home-based business licence is needed and whether customers can visit your home
• Rules on selling live animals and on which fish may be sold differ by province, so check with your provincial regulator
• Home insurance may not cover business stock or visitors, so ask about commercial general liability cover
• Shipping live fish is risky, especially in winter, so many sellers stick to local pickup
• Fish losses from disease or equipment failure, and the extra electricity and water use
• GST/HST registration once revenue passes the small supplier threshold

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $2,000 to $10,000 CAD, depending on the number of tanks and filters you set up, the starting stock of fish you buy and the supplies you hold to resell.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $600 to $3,000, depending on how many fish and supplies you sell and local demand. Fish losses from disease or equipment failure, and extra electricity and water use, can reduce what you keep.

Check with your municipality whether a home-based business licence is needed and whether customers can visit your home. Rules on selling live animals differ by province, so check with your provincial regulator. Ask your insurer about business stock cover.