Selling Christmas trees and wreaths in Canada is a short, late-November to December side hustle. The simplest options are making wreaths, swags, and centrepieces to sell at markets or to neighbours, offering tree delivery and setup for a local lot, and running a paid tree pickup service in early January. Reselling whole trees is a bigger step: you need a grower or wholesaler, a place to sell, any permits your municipality requires, and, if trees come from an area regulated for the LDD moth, a CFIA Movement Certificate to move them into non-regulated areas. Price by the hour or by the item, take cards, and keep receipts for greenery, supplies, and mileage.
Related seasonal guides: holiday market vendor guide, holiday house sitting and pet sitting over Christmas week, and New Year side hustles for 2027.
Which Christmas tree and wreath side hustles can you start in Canada?
There are four common models, and they need very different amounts of cash and space.
| Model | What you sell | Up-front cost | Main constraint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handmade wreaths and swags | Finished decor | Low: greenery, forms, wire, ribbon | Your hours per wreath |
| Tree delivery and setup | A service for buyers without a vehicle or time | Low if you have a suitable vehicle | Vehicle space, scheduling, carrying safely |
| Post-holiday tree pickup | Removal to the municipal drop-off or curbside | Low | Local disposal rules and timing |
| Reselling whole trees | Trees bought from a grower or wholesaler | High: stock, lot, signage, permits | Space, permits, unsold stock |
What rules apply to selling Christmas trees in Canada?
The federal rule most sellers meet is the CFIA’s LDD moth directive; local rules cover where you can sell.
- Moving trees out of regulated areas: the CFIA’s directive D-98-09 says Christmas trees and nursery stock grown in areas of Canada regulated for LDD moth must be accompanied by a Movement Certificate issued by a CFIA inspector before moving into non-regulated areas. Producers may instead qualify through the Christmas Tree Movement Program. Ask your supplier whether trees come from a regulated area and whether certificates are in place.
- Where you sell: a roadside or parking-lot stand can need permission from the property owner and your municipality. Check zoning and any temporary sales permit before you buy stock.
- Greenery for wreaths: only cut from land where you have permission.
How do you keep trees and wreaths fresh and safe for buyers?
Pass Health Canada’s holiday safety tips to every buyer: a fresh tree has needles that are hard to pull off, it should be watered daily once indoors, secured in a sturdy stand, and placed away from heating vents, radiators, stoves, fireplaces, and candles. Remove it as soon as the holidays are over or once needles start to fall, since dry trees can be a fire hazard, and dispose of it under local rules; Health Canada notes most municipalities have tree recycling programs. That last point is the basis of a January pickup service.
How should you price trees, wreaths, and delivery?
Price wreaths by materials plus time, delivery by time and distance, and resale trees by your cost plus a margin that covers unsold stock. All prices here are illustrative, not market rates.
Illustrative example
Assume wreath materials of $12 each, 45 minutes per wreath, a $25-an-hour target for your time, and a $45 selling price. Delivery assumes 45 minutes per drop at the same rate. These figures are assumptions.
- Wreath: materials $12 + labour 0.75 × $25 = $18.75, so $30.75 cost. At $45, the margin is $14.25 per wreath before card fees.
- Card fee: Square’s in-person card rate of 2.5% × $45 = $1.13, leaving about $13.12 (Square pricing).
- 20 wreaths: 20 × $13.12 = $262.40 above your time and materials.
- Delivery and setup: 0.75 hours × $25 = $18.75, plus vehicle costs; quote a flat fee within a set radius.
What mistakes do Christmas tree and wreath sellers make?
The common mistakes are buying more trees than you can sell and skipping location permission.
- Overbuying stock. Unsold trees have little value after December 25.
- Ignoring where trees were grown. Movement rules apply to trees from LDD moth regulated areas.
- Setting up a stand without permission. Get owner and municipal approval first.
- Underpricing wreaths. Count your hours, not only materials.
- Unsafe lifting. Use gloves and a second person for large trees.
Which tax rules apply to tree and wreath sales in Canada?
Sales and service income is generally business income reported on Form T2125. Materials, stock, card fees, and the business share of vehicle costs are generally deductible; keep a logbook for delivery trips (motor vehicle expenses). You generally must register for GST/HST once taxable sales pass $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters (when to register). Wreath supplies such as wreath forms and floral wire TODO-AFFILIATE are deductible when used for products you sell.
This is not tax or legal advice.
Which guides sit next to Christmas tree and wreath selling?
This guide sits beside Christmas light installation, best winter side hustles, holiday Etsy and craft-market shop, and junk removal for the January pickup model.
What are the common questions?
Can I sell Christmas trees as a side hustle in Canada?
Yes, but whole-tree resale needs a supplier, a place to sell, and any permission your municipality and the property owner require. Handmade wreaths, delivery and setup, and post-holiday pickup are lower-cost ways to start.
Do I need a permit to move Christmas trees in Canada?
The CFIA says Christmas trees grown in areas regulated for the LDD moth must have a Movement Certificate issued by a CFIA inspector before moving into non-regulated areas of Canada, unless the producer qualifies through the Christmas Tree Movement Program.
How do you tell if a Christmas tree is fresh?
Health Canada says a fresh tree's needles are hard to pull off. It also advises watering the tree daily and keeping it away from heat sources and candles.
How should I price handmade wreaths?
Add materials and your time at an hourly rate, then add a margin and card fees. For example, $12 in materials and 45 minutes at $25 an hour is $30.75 before margin. Those figures are illustrative.
Is wreath and tree income taxable?
Yes. It is generally business income reported on Form T2125, and materials and business vehicle costs are generally deductible. This is not tax advice.
Which sources support this guide?
The rules, rates, and platform requirements in this guide are checked against these primary sources. Retail price ranges are labelled as ranges to verify locally, and they are not quotes.
- D-98-09: Comprehensive policy to control the spread of the LDD moth — Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- Holiday decoration, apparel and gift safety — Health Canada
- Square pricing (Canada) — Square
- When to register for and start charging the GST/HST — Canada Revenue Agency
- Form T2125, Statement of Business or Professional Activities — Canada Revenue Agency
- Calculating motor vehicle expenses — Canada Revenue Agency