Incense wholesaler for local shops

Independent gift shops, spiritual and wellness stores, yoga studios, health food shops and market sellers.

You sell cases or assortments to retailers at a wholesale price above your landed cost. Repeat reorders from regular shops give steady income.

• Sales and negotiating with suppliers and shop owners
• Stock control and invoicing
• Knowing scents, quality and what sells
• Organising shipping or deliveries

• Check import rules, duties and taxes with the CBSA, and whether any ingredients or wood types face trade restrictions
• Check product safety and labelling requirements with Health Canada, plus French-language labelling if you sell in Quebec
• Register for GST/HST and check how it applies to wholesale sales, and check whether you need a Business Number and provincial registration
• Product liability insurance, plus cover for stock stored at home
• Tied-up cash in stock, and shops that pay slowly. Consider payment terms carefully
• Check municipal rules if you store stock at home or run a home-based business

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how much stock you buy in bulk, your storage, insurance and catalogue. Cash tied up in stock is a key consideration, so plan your buying carefully.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on how many shops, studios and market sellers you supply and how often they reorder. The estimate assumes at least about 10 hours a week. Slow-paying shops can affect cash flow.

Check CBSA import rules, duties and taxes, and whether any ingredients or wood types face trade restrictions. Also check Health Canada product safety and labelling, French-language labelling for Quebec, GST/HST and Business Number registration, product liability insurance, and municipal rules for storing stock at home.