Online household goods wholesaler

Independent shops, dollar and discount stores, Airbnb hosts and property managers, small hotels, offices and community organizations.

You earn the margin between your bulk buying price and your wholesale selling price. Repeat orders from regular customers and minimum order sizes keep each sale worthwhile.

• Negotiating with suppliers
• Organizing stock and orders
• Sales and follow-up with business customers
• Basic bookkeeping

• Check whether you need to register for GST/HST and how to collect it on sales, and ask suppliers about wholesale tax-exempt purchasing
• Check product safety and labelling rules for items you sell, as some products (cleaning chemicals, children's items, electrical goods) have extra requirements through Health Canada or Competition Bureau guidance
• Cash is tied up in stock, so start with small orders and avoid buying more than you can sell in a few months
• Check home-based business rules with your municipality and your home insurance, as stored stock may not be covered
• Get commercial general liability and product liability insurance before selling to businesses
• Offering payment terms to customers can mean late or unpaid invoices, so consider requiring payment up front for new customers

Startup is typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how much opening stock you buy, your storage arrangements and your online catalogue setup. Treat this as an estimate, and start with small orders.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on your product range and how many business customers you win. Cash is tied up in stock, so avoid buying more than you can sell in a few months.

Check whether you need to register for GST/HST, and product safety and labelling rules for items like cleaning chemicals, children's items and electrical goods. Also check home-based business rules, home insurance for stored stock, and liability insurance.