Niche plastic products supplier, run from home

Small manufacturers, restaurants and caterers, retailers, farms, garden centres and online sellers who need regular supplies at trade prices.

You earn the margin between your trade buying price and your resale price. Repeat orders and volume discounts from suppliers help it grow over time.

• Sales and negotiating with suppliers
• Organised order and invoice tracking
• Knowing your niche products well

• Commercial general liability and product liability insurance, so check what your insurer needs
• Plastic rules: check federal single-use plastics rules and any rules for food-contact products before choosing stock
• Imported goods may involve duties and customs paperwork, so check with the Canada Border Services Agency
• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence
• Cash flow: trade customers often expect 30-day payment terms while suppliers want payment up front
• In Quebec, check French-language labelling and documentation rules

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your niche, how much you buy and whether suppliers ship direct to customers. Cash flow matters, since suppliers may want payment up front.

Things to check include federal single-use plastics rules and any rules for food-contact products before choosing stock. Imported goods may involve duties and customs paperwork through the Canada Border Services Agency. In Quebec, check French-language labelling rules.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $8,000, depending on your niche, order volumes and customers. Trade customers often expect 30-day payment terms, so plan your cash flow.