Local toner and paper delivery service

Small offices, medical and dental clinics, schools, community groups, quick-print shops and home-office users who want reliable local service.

Margin on each product sold, plus repeat standing orders. Offering a reminder service or a free delivery minimum encourages regular reordering.

• Knowing printer and copier models and compatible supplies
• Organised stock and order tracking
• Building relationships with office managers

• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence, and whether your home insurance allows stock storage
• Commercial general liability insurance, plus coverage for stock and your delivery vehicle
• Environmental or recycling fees on cartridges and electronics vary by province, so check your provincial stewardship program
• Register for GST/HST (and provincial sales tax where applicable) once you pass the small supplier threshold, and check the rules for your province
• Thin margins against big chains and online sellers, so focus on service and standing orders
• In Quebec, check French-language requirements for your website and documents

Estimates suggest startup costs typically sit around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how much stock you buy, whether you rent a storage unit, and how you set up your online catalogue and delivery vehicle.

Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and whether your home insurance allows stock storage. Also check commercial general liability cover, stock and vehicle insurance, provincial environmental fees on cartridges, and GST/HST registration rules for your province.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how many office accounts you win and how much you deliver. Margins can be thin against big chains and online sellers, so standing orders and service matter.