Home-Based stationery supplier for local buyers

Independent shops, gift and toy stores, daycares, private schools, community groups and small offices that want better prices than retail.

You earn the margin between your bulk buying price and your wholesale price. Repeat orders, minimum order sizes and a simple price list for regular customers keep it steady.

• Selling to businesses
• Organised stock and order tracking
• Negotiating with suppliers
• Reliable follow-up with customers

• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and whether you can store stock at home
• Register for GST/HST when required, and check provincial sales tax rules for resale (PST in some provinces, QST in Quebec)
• Check commercial general liability and product liability insurance, and your home insurance policy for business stock
• School boards and larger offices may require approved-vendor status or tenders, which can take time
• Late-paying customers can strain cash flow, so consider prepayment for new accounts
• Quebec customers may expect French-language catalogues and invoices, so check the rules

Startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on how much stock you hold and how much you order in for customers instead of stocking. Treat this as an estimate and confirm prices with your suppliers.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on your customer mix and order sizes. That is revenue rather than profit, and late-paying customers can strain cash flow.

Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and allows stock at home. Also check GST/HST registration and provincial sales tax rules for resale, your insurance, and approved-vendor requirements for schools.