Custom piñatas sold online and at local markets

Parents planning birthdays, families celebrating cultural events, and small event planners who want something one of a kind.

A price per piñata, with extras for custom designs, rush orders, filler bundles and matching decorations. Busy seasons like birthdays, Cinco de Mayo and Christmas bring peaks.

• Crafting and decorating
• Social media photos and posts
• Planning orders around event dates

• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence
• Children's products may fall under Health Canada rules, so check safety and labelling requirements, especially for any candy or toys you add
• Selling pre-filled candy may bring food rules, so consider selling fillers separately and check with the CFIA or your public health unit
• Register for GST/HST once your sales pass the small supplier threshold, and check provincial sales tax rules
• Shipping bulky, fragile piñatas can be costly, so test packaging and consider local delivery first
• Business insurance may be worth checking if you sell at markets

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $300 to $2,000, depending on your materials, whether you make or buy plain piñatas, and your packaging and market stall needs. Test packaging early, as bulky, fragile items can be costly to ship.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $300 to $2,500, depending on how many custom orders you take, your pricing and how often you sell at markets. The estimate assumes at least about 8 hours a week.

Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence, and whether Health Canada rules cover safety and labelling for children's products, especially added candy or toys. Pre-filled candy may bring food rules, so check with the CFIA or public health unit. Also check GST/HST.