Open an indian grocery shop in Canada

South Asian families and students nearby, plus home cooks and neighbours who want authentic ingredients.

You buy from wholesalers and importers and sell at a markup. Fresh produce and ready-to-eat items usually bring shoppers back weekly, and bulk buys of rice, flour and lentils raise the basket size.

• Knowing Indian ingredients and brands
• Stock control and ordering
• Customer service and community networking

• Selling packaged and fresh food usually needs a permit or inspection from your local public health unit, so check early
• Imported foods must meet Canadian labelling rules (including bilingual labels), so check with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• Commercial general liability and property insurance
• Short shelf life on fresh produce and dairy leads to waste if you over-order
• Check your municipality's zoning and signage rules, and rules on selling items like tobacco or alcohol if relevant
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold, and check if any items are zero-rated

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $40,000 to $180,000 CAD, depending on the size and location of the premises, fit-out, refrigeration and how much opening stock you buy.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $15,000 to $70,000, depending on location, shop size, product range and customer base. The estimate assumes at least about 50 hours a week of work.

Check whether your local public health unit requires a permit or inspection, and Canadian Food Inspection Agency labelling rules, including bilingual labels on imported foods. Also check insurance, municipal zoning and signage rules, and GST/HST registration once you pass the small supplier threshold.