Licence plate frame wholesaler for local shops

Car accessory shops, independent garages, tire shops, small dealerships and detailing businesses that sell or give away frames.

You buy at a low unit price and sell to trade customers at a wholesale margin. Repeat orders and display stands help raise the value per customer.

• Sales and building trade relationships
• Organising stock and orders
• Negotiating with suppliers

• Provincial rules on plate visibility: frames must not cover the plate number, province name or validation sticker, so check your provincial transport ministry
• Import duties, customs paperwork and shipping time if you buy overseas, plus GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold
• Do not sell frames with car brand or sports team logos unless you have permission, as this can infringe trademarks
• Bilingual packaging and labelling rules, especially for sales in Quebec, so check before ordering branded packs
• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and whether your home insurance covers stored stock

Estimates put startup costs at typically around $2,000 to $8,000 CAD, depending on how much stock you buy and where you source it. Buying overseas can add import duties, customs paperwork and shipping time to check.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue of typically around $1,200 to $6,000, depending on how many shops, garages and dealers you supply. Plan on at least about 8 hours a week for sourcing, orders and deliveries.

Check your provincial transport ministry's rules on plate visibility, since frames must not cover the plate number, province name or validation sticker. Also check trademark permission for logos, bilingual packaging rules, GST/HST thresholds, home business licensing and whether home insurance covers stock.