Online rice cracker and asian snack shop

Fans of Asian snacks, people missing flavours from home, gift buyers and shoppers with no Asian grocery nearby.

You buy stock at wholesale prices and sell at retail prices, with extra revenue from gift boxes, subscriptions and shipping fees.

• Choosing products customers will love
• Basic website and social media skills
• Careful stock and order tracking

• Before trading, check whether your municipality allows storing and selling food from home and whether you need a business licence or home-occupation permit
• Check your provincial or local public health rules for storing and selling prepackaged food, as some areas require registration or inspection
• If you import directly or sell across provincial borders, check with the CFIA whether you need a Safe Food for Canadians licence
• Packaged food labels must meet Canadian rules, including bilingual English and French labelling and allergen declarations (soy, wheat, sesame), so check imported products carefully
• Consider commercial general liability insurance, GST/HST registration once past the small supplier threshold, and plan for shipping costs and breakage in winter

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $1,500 to $6,000, depending on your opening stock, website setup, packaging and insurance. Shipping costs and winter breakage are worth planning for.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on your product range, marketing and whether you add tasting boxes or subscriptions. Revenue is not profit, so factor in stock and shipping costs.

Check whether your municipality allows storing and selling food from home, and whether you need a business licence or home-occupation permit. Also check provincial or local public health rules, CFIA licensing if you import or sell across provinces, and bilingual and allergen labelling.