Online chocolate gift shop

Online gift buyers, people sending treats to family far away, and businesses ordering client gifts.

You sell products at a mark-up over wholesale, plus charges for gift wrapping, personal messages and bulk or corporate orders.

• Setting up an online shop
• Product photos and descriptions
• Packing and managing shipping

• Home-based business licence and food storage rules, which vary by municipality and province
• Federal food labelling and licensing rules if you import or sell across provincial borders, check with the CFIA
• Chocolate can melt in transit, so summer shipping may need cool packs or paused delivery
• Commercial general liability and product liability insurance
• Collecting GST/HST or provincial sales tax once you pass the small supplier threshold

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on your online shop setup, stock, packaging and any cooling supplies for shipping. Your actual spend depends on how you source products.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your product range, order volume and pricing. Summer shipping may need cool packs or paused delivery, which can affect sales.

Check home-based business licence and food storage rules for your municipality and province. If you import or sell across provincial borders, check federal labelling and licensing rules with the CFIA, plus insurance and GST/HST or provincial sales tax once past the small supplier threshold.