Local household goods wholesale supplier

Convenience and discount stores, restaurants and cafés, cleaning companies, property managers, hotels and care homes.

You earn the margin on goods sold, with higher volumes from regular accounts and a delivery or minimum order fee on smaller orders.

• Supplier negotiation and buying
• Inventory control
• Building relationships with business customers
• Driving and basic logistics

• Check zoning and the lease terms for your unit with the municipality and landlord, including any fire code and storage requirements
• Commercial general liability, product liability, stock and commercial vehicle insurance are all worth checking before you start
• Check product labelling and safety rules (including bilingual labelling and Quebec requirements if relevant) for what you sell
• Registered businesses usually need a Business Number and GST/HST account, and rules for provincial sales taxes differ by province
• Stock tied up in the warehouse and customers paying late can strain cash flow, so set clear payment terms
• Check WCB/WSIB requirements as soon as you hire staff or drivers
• Winter weather can slow deliveries, so plan for delays and heated or protected storage for some products

Startup is typically around $20,000 to $80,000, depending on your unit's rent and deposit, how much stock you buy and your delivery setup. These are estimates, so get quotes before committing to a lease.

Monthly revenue is typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on your range and how many regular business customers you serve. Late-paying customers can strain cash flow, so set clear payment terms. Expect at least about 35 hours a week.

Check zoning, your lease terms and fire code with the municipality and landlord. Also check insurance, labelling rules including bilingual and Quebec requirements, Business Number and GST/HST registration, and WCB/WSIB once you hire staff or drivers.