Home-Based novelty and gift wholesaler

Independent gift shops, convenience and tourist shops, market vendors, craft fair sellers and small online sellers.

You sell at a trade price above your landed cost (purchase price plus shipping, duties and handling). Profit comes from repeat orders and minimum order sizes, with seasonal peaks before holidays.

• Spotting products that sell
• Negotiating with suppliers
• Stock tracking and organizing
• Building trade customer relationships

• Check whether you need a home-based business licence from your municipality, and whether storing stock at home is allowed
• Register your business with your province and check GST/HST registration once you pass the small supplier threshold
• Check product safety rules for items like children's toys and novelty items (Health Canada and Canada Consumer Product Safety Act requirements)
• Imported goods may involve duties, customs paperwork and labelling rules, including bilingual labelling, so check with the Canada Border Services Agency
• Unsold seasonal stock can tie up cash, so avoid over-ordering
• Check your home insurance covers business stock, and consider commercial general liability insurance

Startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on the stock you buy, storage and any catalogue or website. These are estimates, and avoiding over-ordering seasonal items helps keep cash free.

Check home-based business licence and stock storage rules with your municipality, provincial registration and GST/HST, and product safety rules for items like children's toys. For imports, check duties, customs paperwork and bilingual labelling with the Canada Border Services Agency.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $800 to $4,000, depending on your product lines and trade customers. Hours start at about 10 a week. Unsold seasonal stock can tie up cash, so order carefully.