Online specialty soda store with local delivery

Home customers who want hard-to-find drinks, gift buyers, and local cafés, bars and event hosts ordering by the case.

Margin on cases and mixed boxes, delivery fees, regular subscriptions or standing orders for businesses, and gift and event orders.

• Setting up a simple online shop
• Social media and local marketing
• Organising stock and deliveries
• Building relationships with local businesses

• Storing stock at home may need a home-based business licence or zoning approval, check with your municipality
• Whether packaged drinks sales need a permit from your local public health unit
• Provincial bottle deposit and recycling fees, which vary by province
• Labelling rules for imported drinks, including French-language rules in Quebec, check with the CFIA and your province
• Commercial general liability and product liability insurance, plus cover for your vehicle if used for deliveries
• Heavy cases, breakages, shipping costs and winter driving conditions
• Registering for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on opening stock, storage space, your website and delivery setup. Price your own stock and storage plan before committing.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on your range, marketing, delivery area and how many local businesses order by the case. The estimates start from about 10 hours a week.

Check whether storing stock at home needs a home-based licence or zoning approval, and whether you need a public health permit. Also check bottle deposit and recycling fees, labelling rules (including French-language rules in Quebec), insurance and GST/HST registration.