Tea blender supplying cafés and shops

Cafés, restaurants, gift and health food shops, small grocers and businesses wanting branded or corporate gift teas.

You sell wholesale at a lower price per unit but in larger orders, and may add online sales and private-label contracts. Repeat monthly orders are the goal.

• Blending and consistent quality control
• Costing and pricing
• Sales and relationship building with buyers
• Organising stock and orders

• Food production premises usually need approval and inspection, so check requirements before you sign a lease
• Federal licensing or food safety plan rules may apply, especially if you ship across provinces or export, so check with CFIA
• Labelling, allergen and bilingual packaging rules
• Commercial general liability and product liability insurance, plus WCB/WSIB coverage if you hire (rules differ by province)
• Wholesale buyers may pay slowly and negotiate on price, so watch cash flow
• Ingredient prices and import delays can change your margins

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $10,000 to $40,000, depending on your unit, equipment, ingredients and packaging. Check production premises requirements before you sign a lease, as approval and inspection are usually needed.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how many cafés and shops you supply and your order sizes. Buyers may pay slowly and negotiate on price, so watch cash flow.

Check food production premises approval and inspection, and whether federal licensing or food safety plan rules apply through CFIA, especially if you ship across provinces or export. Also check labelling, allergen and bilingual packaging rules, and liability insurance.