Specialty soda and mixers shop
Run a small shop selling craft sodas, mixers and unusual soft drinks to locals, cafés and bars.
- C$20k-80k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A small retail shop stocking craft and imported sodas, premium mixers, ginger beers, tonics and local small-batch drinks. Many shops also keep a fridge for single cold bottles and sell gift packs and mixed cases.
Your first three steps
- Visit local grocers, cafés and bars to see what they stock and where there are gaps for specialist drinks
- Contact small Canadian and import distributors for price lists and minimum orders, and start a shortlist of 40 to 60 products
- Compare rents for small units in busy streets or markets and check with your municipality which licences and zoning rules apply
Who pays
Local shoppers, curious foodies, home entertainers, and nearby cafés, restaurants and bars buying cases for their own menus.
How it makes money
Retail margin on bottles and cans, discounts on case or wholesale orders for local businesses, plus gift boxes and party orders.
Skills that help
- Choosing products customers will want
- Stock control and ordering
- Friendly customer service
- Basic bookkeeping
Watch out for
- Municipal business licence and zoning for retail use, check with your city or town
- Whether a food premises permit from your local public health unit is needed, even for packaged drinks
- Provincial bottle deposit and recycling fees, which vary by province
- Labelling rules for imported drinks, including French-language requirements in Quebec, check with the CFIA and your provincial rules
- Commercial general liability insurance and cover for stock
- Heavy stock, limited storage space and best-before dates
- Registering for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: specialty soda and mixers shop
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to open a specialty soda shop in Canada?
Startup costs are estimated at typically around $20,000 to $80,000, depending on the premises, fit-out, fridges and how much opening stock you buy. Price your own shop plan before committing.
How much revenue can a specialty soda shop make?
Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on location, range, foot traffic and how much you sell to nearby cafés and bars. The estimates assume at least about 30 hours a week.
What rules should I check before opening a soda and mixers shop?
Check your municipal business licence and zoning, and whether a food premises permit is needed. Also check provincial bottle deposit and recycling fees, labelling rules for imported drinks (including Quebec's French-language rules), insurance and GST/HST registration.
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