Online office accessories wholesaler

Gift shops, independent stationers, office managers, coworking spaces and small online resellers.

You buy at wholesale or factory prices and sell in case or bundle quantities at a margin. Minimum order values and repeat accounts keep each order worthwhile.

• Sourcing and negotiating with suppliers
• Basic online store and spreadsheet skills
• Reliable order handling and customer service

• Check whether you need to register for GST/HST, and for provincial sales tax or QST depending on your province, and how resale exemptions work
• If you import, check CBSA requirements, duties and any current tariffs, and whether you need an import account under your Business Number
• Check labelling rules for prepackaged consumer goods, including bilingual requirements, if the products will be resold to shoppers
• Check municipal rules on running a home-based business and storing stock at home
• Offering payment terms to new buyers carries a risk of late or unpaid invoices

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $1,000 to $6,000 CAD, depending on how much stock you hold and how you set up your online catalogue. Drop-shipping the rest from suppliers can keep stock levels lower.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $1,000 to $5,000 CAD, depending on your trade customers and order sizes. Offering payment terms to new buyers carries a risk of late or unpaid invoices.

Things to check: GST/HST, provincial sales tax or QST registration and how resale exemptions work; CBSA requirements, duties, any current tariffs and an import account if you import; bilingual labelling rules; and municipal home-based business rules.