Online candy shop with curated treats

Candy fans, gift buyers, parents ordering party favours and people missing treats from other countries.

You sell individual items, bundles and subscription or gift boxes at a markup over wholesale cost, plus shipping charges.

• Basic online store setup
• Social media and product photos
• Order packing and inventory tracking

• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and whether your province allows food storage at home for resale
• Importing candy yourself may need a federal licence and compliant labelling, so check with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• Bilingual labelling and French-language rules, especially if selling in or from Quebec
• Heat can melt chocolate in transit, so check shipping options and seasonal limits
• Commercial general liability or product liability insurance, and GST/HST registration

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on your stock, website setup, packaging and whether you rent storage space or keep stock at home.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $4,000, depending on your niche, product range and how well you market the shop. Plan on at least about 8 hours a week for packing, photos and orders.

Things to check: whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence, whether your province allows food storage at home for resale, and CFIA rules if importing. Also check bilingual labelling, Quebec French-language rules, insurance, GST/HST and shipping limits for heat.