Small-batch tortilla maker for cafés and markets

Cafés, restaurants, food trucks, caterers and home cooks who want fresher tortillas than supermarket packs.

Wholesale price per dozen or per case to businesses, plus higher retail prices per pack at markets. Regular weekly orders from a few restaurants give steady income.

• Cooking and dough handling
• Consistency and food safety habits
• Pitching to local restaurants

• A food premises permit or approved kitchen is usually needed, check with your local public health unit before selling
• Rules on selling food made at home differ by province, so do not assume a home kitchen is allowed
• Label rules for allergens (wheat, for example) and ingredients apply, and extra federal rules, such as licensing and traceability requirements, may apply if you sell across provinces or export, check with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
• Commercial general liability and product liability insurance
• Check how GST/HST applies to your products and when you must register
• Farmers' markets are seasonal in most of Canada, so line up wholesale customers for winter

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on equipment, kitchen rental and packaging. Treat this as an estimate and get quotes for your own setup before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on how many cafés and restaurants you supply and whether you sell at markets. Farmers' markets are seasonal in most of Canada, so line up wholesale customers for winter.

Check whether you need a food premises permit or approved kitchen with your local public health unit, as rules on home-made food differ by province. Also check allergen and ingredient labelling, CFIA rules if you sell across provinces or export, insurance and GST/HST.