Online herb and tea shop

Home cooks, tea drinkers and people interested in natural and traditional products, who are often loyal repeat customers.

Product sales with a markup over wholesale or bulk cost, plus higher-margin own blends, gift sets and subscription boxes. Shipping is charged or built into prices.

• Product knowledge about herbs and teas
• Basic website and photo skills
• Packing and order organization
• Clear, honest product writing

• Natural health products and herbal remedies generally need Health Canada approval (a product licence number), so check before selling any remedy
• Avoid health claims on your site or labels unless they are approved
• Food labelling rules, including bilingual labels and French requirements in Quebec; check CFIA guidance
• If you prepare, package or label food and send it across provincial borders (or import or export it), a Safe Food for Canadians licence may be required; confirm with CFIA before you start shipping
• Home-based business and food handling rules vary by municipality and public health unit
• Commercial general liability and product liability insurance
• Shipping costs and heat or cold damage in extreme seasons

Startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on your product range, packaging, website and whether you work from a clean space at home or rent a small unit. Treat this as an estimate and start with a focused range.

Monthly revenue is typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on your range, pricing and how many customers reorder. Shipping costs and heat or cold damage in extreme seasons can affect how much of that revenue you keep.

Check whether any herbal remedy needs Health Canada approval (a product licence number), and avoid unapproved health claims. Check CFIA food labelling, including bilingual labels, and whether a Safe Food for Canadians licence applies. Also check municipal and public health unit rules for home-based food handling.