Pond fish supply to landscapers and garden shops

Landscaping companies, garden centres, aquatic and pet shops, and pond installers who need dependable stock in spring and summer.

You sell to trade customers at a wholesale price above your cost, usually by the fish or by the batch. Repeat orders and a delivery fee on small orders add to revenue.

• Handling and transporting live fish safely
• Route planning and reliable delivery
• Building trade relationships and invoicing

• Selling live fish commercially may need provincial licences or permits, so check with your provincial regulator before you start
• If you import fish, check federal import and health requirements with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Some species are restricted under invasive species rules, so check what you can buy, hold and sell
• Heat, travel time and low oxygen can kill stock in transit, so plan routes and carry spare aeration
• Commercial general liability and vehicle insurance covering live cargo
• Sales stop in winter, so plan cash flow for the off season

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $20,000 to $70,000, depending on your vehicle, aerated transport tank, holding facility and initial stock. Get quotes for your own setup before you commit.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $2,000 to $9,000, depending on your trade customers, routes and stock volume. The estimate assumes at least about 15 hours a week. Sales stop in winter, so plan your cash flow.

Check whether selling live fish commercially needs provincial licences or permits. If you import, check CFIA and Fisheries and Oceans Canada requirements. Also check restricted species rules, and insurance covering your vehicle and live cargo.