Online supplier of plastic containers and fittings

Small businesses that use plastic items in their own work, such as food producers, cosmetics makers, farms, cafés, contractors and workshops.

You buy at wholesale prices and sell with a markup, usually in packs or cases. Repeat orders from regular business customers are the main source of income, and a minimum order size helps cover shipping.

• Researching products and suppliers
• Negotiating prices and minimum orders
• Basic online shop setup
• Organising stock and shipping

• Plastic items used for food or drink may need to meet Health Canada rules, so ask suppliers for documentation
• Check the federal rules on single-use plastics so you do not sell prohibited items
• If you import, check customs duties, broker fees and labelling requirements with the Canada Border Services Agency
• Check whether you need a home-based business licence from your municipality, and whether your home insurance covers stock
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold, and check provincial sales tax rules where you sell
• Quebec customers and sellers have French-language requirements for labelling and websites, so check them if you sell there
• Shipping bulky, lightweight plastic can cost more than expected, so test costs before you set your prices

Startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on your niche and how much stock you buy. Monthly revenue is estimated at around $800 to $5,000, depending on your customers, order sizes and pricing.

Check Health Canada rules for plastics used with food or drink, and federal single-use plastics rules. If you import, check CBSA duties and labelling. Also check home-based licensing, GST/HST registration, and Quebec French-language requirements.

Yes, it can be. Bulky, lightweight plastic can cost more to ship than expected, so test shipping costs before you set your prices. Negotiating prices and minimum orders with suppliers and organizing stock also help.