Online packaging supplies for small sellers

Online sellers, small food and craft makers, market vendors, home-based businesses and small shops that pack and ship orders.

You buy in bulk from wholesalers and sell in smaller bundles at a markup. Offering local delivery or pickup, and repeat orders from regular customers, helps offset shipping costs.

• Basic online shop set-up
• Pricing and keeping track of stock
• Clear, friendly customer service

• Bulky goods are costly to ship, so check delivery costs before setting prices
• Large suppliers can undercut you on price, so focus on a niche, small quantities and local service
• Check GST/HST and any provincial sales tax (PST or QST) rules for registering and charging tax
• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and whether storing stock at home is allowed
• Cardboard stock takes space and can be a fire risk, so store it sensibly and check your home insurance
• Check insurance cover for stock and for product liability
• If selling food-contact packaging, check Health Canada and CFIA requirements; in Quebec, check French-language rules for your site

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $2,000 to $10,000 CAD, depending on how much stock you hold and how you set up your shop. Bulky goods are costly to ship, so check delivery costs before setting prices.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000 CAD, depending on your niche, order sizes and customers. Large suppliers can undercut you on price, so focus on a niche, small quantities and local service.

Check GST/HST and any provincial sales tax (PST or QST) rules, and whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and allows stock at home. For food-contact packaging, check Health Canada and CFIA requirements.