Neighbourhood herb and tea shop

Local shoppers, tea lovers, cooks, and people looking for natural and traditional products, plus gift buyers.

Retail sales by weight or pack, with better margins on house blends, gift sets and accessories such as teapots and infusers. Workshops and tastings can add extra income.

• Good knowledge of herbs and teas
• Customer service and friendly advice
• Stock buying and inventory control
• Basic bookkeeping

• Retail lease terms and fit-out costs; get advice before committing
• Health Canada rules for natural health products, which generally need an approved product licence number
• Food handling, storage and labelling rules, and bilingual labelling or French-language rules in Quebec
• Commercial general liability insurance and contents cover
• Staff coverage with your provincial WCB or WSIB once you hire
• Slow winter weeks and the cash needed to stock up

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $25,000 to $90,000, depending on the premises, fit-out and how much stock you buy. Retail lease terms and fit-out costs are worth checking, and get advice before committing to a lease.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $8,000 to $30,000, depending on location, range and opening hours. Expect slow winter weeks, so check how much cash you will need to stock up and cover quieter periods.

Check Health Canada rules for natural health products, which generally need an approved product licence number. Also check food handling, storage and labelling rules, including bilingual or French-language rules in Quebec, plus your insurance needs.