Online loose-leaf tea shop

Home tea drinkers, gift buyers and people who want a subscription or sampler box delivered.

Margin on each pouch, sampler or gift set, plus repeat orders and monthly subscriptions. Higher-priced gift sets in the holiday season can lift sales.

• Knowing teas and flavours
• Basic website and photo skills
• Packing and order organization

• Food labelling rules for packaged tea, including bilingual labels for products sold across Canada, check with the CFIA
• Whether a home-based business licence or a food premises approval applies if you blend or repackage at home, check with your municipality and local public health unit
• GST/HST registration once revenue passes the small supplier threshold, and provincial sales tax rules for online sales
• Shipping costs and delays in winter and over the holidays
• Commercial general liability and product liability insurance

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on how much tea and packaging you buy in bulk and how you set up your website. Starting with a small range of blends keeps costs lower.

Check food labelling rules for packaged tea, including bilingual labels, with the CFIA. If you blend or repackage at home, check with your municipality and local public health unit whether a home-based business licence or food premises approval applies. Also check GST/HST and insurance.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $3,500, depending on your range, marketing and any subscription or sampler boxes, from about 8 hours a week. Shipping costs and delays in winter and over the holidays are worth planning for.