Neighbourhood candy shop

Families, tourists, office workers, teens after school, and gift buyers.

You buy confectionery wholesale and sell it at a markup, by weight from bulk bins or by the pack. Gift boxes and seasonal items add to the average sale.

• Friendly customer service
• Stock ordering and cash handling
• Eye for displays and seasonal trends

• Check with your local public health unit about food premises rules, especially for open bulk candy and scoops
• Check municipal business licence and zoning requirements for your location
• Commercial general liability insurance and property cover
• Registering for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold, and provincial sales tax rules where they apply
• Sales are seasonal, so plan cash flow for slower months
• Check labelling rules for imported products, and French-language rules if in Quebec

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $25,000 to $100,000, depending on your premises, fit-out and the range of stock you buy. Seasonal lines for Halloween, Christmas and Easter can add to your stock needs.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $8,000 to $30,000, depending on your location, range and foot traffic. Sales are seasonal, so plan your cash flow for slower months. Revenue is not profit.

Check food premises rules with your local public health unit, especially for open bulk candy and scoops, municipal business licence and zoning, GST/HST and provincial sales tax registration, labelling rules for imports, and French-language rules in Quebec.