Retail business ideas you can start from home in Canada

113 ideas

These 114 retail ideas let you sell without leasing a storefront. Some are online shops, like an online used game and retro console shop or an online water filter and treatment supply store.

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1k to 5k 5k to 20k Over 20k Out and about Own premises Online

Incense sticks smoking in a shop display of wooden boxes.

Incense wholesaler for local shops

Import or source incense in bulk and supply gift shops, yoga studios and spiritual stores in your region.

C$3k-15k
Part-time
From home

Tailcoats and evening gowns displayed on a rack in a formal wear rental shop.

Home-based formal gown hire

Rent out gowns and formal wear for proms, galas and weddings from a fitting room at home.

C$2.5k-10k
Side hustle
From home

Rows of ice and roller skates with protective gear in a skate shop.

Online skate shop with sharpening

Sell skates and gear online from home, and add skate sharpening for local customers.

C$3k-15k
Side hustle
From home

Florist arranging colourful cut flowers into a bouquet at a shop counter.

Home-based florist for gifts and small events

Design bouquets and arrangements at home and sell them by order, with local delivery or pickup.

C$500-3k
Side hustle
From home

Wedding dresses on racks inside a bridal shop.

By-appointment bridal studio and online accessories

Run a private fitting room at home and sell veils, jewellery and wedding supplies online.

C$3k-15k
Side hustle
From home

Kitchen and storage cabinets displayed in a showroom for homeowners to browse.

Home-based cabinet dealer and designer

Sell cabinets from supplier catalogues, offering design help and quotes from home with no showroom rent.

C$3k-15k
Side hustle
From home

Stacks of suitcases and travel bags packed in a wholesale warehouse.

Home-based luggage wholesaler for small shops

Buy suitcases and bags in small lots and sell them in bulk to independent shops and online sellers.

C$3k-15k
Side hustle
From home

Colourful tropical fish in tanks displayed inside a retail aquarium shop.

Home-based aquarium plants and supplies shop

Sell aquatic plants, equipment and fish food online from home, with local pickup or shipping, as a lower-cost way into the aquarium trade.

C$3k-15k
Side hustle
From home

Hands arranging dried flowers in vases inside a bright, tidy flower shop.

Online dried flower studio

Make dried bouquets, wreaths and gift boxes at home and sell them online and at local markets.

C$500-3k
Side hustle
From home

Courier carrying a wrapped flower bouquet to a front door.

Home-based online flower delivery

Design bouquets at home, take orders online and deliver them to local doors for birthdays, thank-yous and events.

C$1k-4k
Side hustle
From home

Lizards and snakes in glass terrariums displayed in a specialist reptile shop.

Reptile expo and supplies seller

Sell captive-bred reptiles and care supplies at weekend reptile expos and by local pickup, without renting a shop.

C$2k-10k
Side hustle
From home

Customers viewing displayed products in a bright modern showroom.

Home studio showroom by appointment

Turn a spare room or converted garage into a small showroom and sell a curated range to booked visitors.

C$2k-10k
Side hustle
From home

Wedding dresses on racks and a bride being fitted in a bridal boutique.

Home-based bridal studio by appointment

Run a private bridal studio from a spare room or home space, seeing a few brides a week with a small curated gown collection.

C$5k-25k
Side hustle
From home

Showroom displaying desks and office chairs arranged neatly.

Office furniture dealer (no showroom)

Supply desks, chairs and storage to local offices from a website and catalogues, then deliver and install.

C$3k-15k
Part-time
From home

Old coins and banknotes laid out on a table beside a magnifying glass.

Online coin and banknote dealer

Buy, grade and sell collectable coins and banknotes online and at local coin shows, working from home.

C$3k-12k
Side hustle
From home

A tailor pinning and adjusting a garment on a mannequin in a workshop.

Home alterations and repairs studio

Hem, taper and mend clothes for neighbours from a sewing corner at home, by appointment.

C$500-3k
Side hustle
From home

Small wedding favour boxes and keepsakes arranged on a table.

Custom handmade wedding favours

Make personalized favours at home, like candles, cookies tags or engraved keepsakes, for couples who want something unique.

C$800-5k
Side hustle
From home

Assorted loose gemstones arranged on a dealer's velvet tray.

Online loose gemstone seller

Source loose gemstones and sell them online to jewellers, makers and collectors across Canada.

C$1.5k-7.5k
Side hustle
From home

Fridges and washing machines displayed in an appliance showroom.

Appliance supplier for landlords and renovators

Supply new, open-box and scratch-and-dent appliances to landlords and renovators, with no showroom and a simple storage space.

C$5k-25k
Side hustle
From home

Rack of colourful greeting cards and wrapping paper in a card shop.

Online greeting card shop with craft market stalls

Sell curated or self-designed cards and wrapping online and at local markets, working from home.

C$800-5k
Side hustle
From home

Fishing lures, hooks and bait tubs arranged on shelves in a tackle shop.

Seasonal home bait and tackle stand

Sell worms, basic lures and tackle from your garage or property near a fishing spot.

C$1.5k-7k
Side hustle
From home

Bonsai trees displayed on benches in a nursery greenhouse.

Home-grown bonsai sold online

Grow and train bonsai at home, then sell trees, pots and care supplies to hobbyists and gift buyers online.

C$500-3k
Side hustle
From home

Customers browsing laptops and desktop computers displayed in a bright computer store.

Online custom PC and parts seller

Build and sell custom PCs and accessories online from home, shipped or picked up locally.

C$2k-10k
Side hustle
From home

Installer fitting rows of commercial seating in a public venue.

Commercial seating dealer (home-based)

Quote and supply seating for restaurants, offices, halls and churches, using suppliers and contract installers.

C$2k-8k
Part-time
From home

About these ideas

Others are made-to-order or appointment-based, such as custom handmade wedding favours or a home-based bridal studio. They suit people who want to test a product with modest overhead, work around family or a day job, and build customers gradually. Before choosing, think about where you will store stock, how you will ship or deliver, and who will actually buy. Also check your municipality's rules on home-based businesses, any licences or product safety requirements for what you sell, and whether your home insurance covers inventory and customer visits.

More ideas

Questions

Do I need a licence to run a retail business from home in Canada?

It depends on your city or town and what you sell. Check your municipality's home-occupation bylaws, whether a business licence is required, and whether your products need special permits. Provincial registration and tax rules are also worth confirming.

How do I choose between selling online and selling by appointment?

Consider your product, your space and your customers. Online selling suits items that ship easily, while appointments suit fittings or high-touch purchases. Check zoning rules for client visits, parking, and whether you are comfortable hosting people at home.

What should I check about taxes and insurance before I start?

Look into whether you need to register for GST/HST, how sales tax applies in your province, and how to track income and expenses. Ask your insurer whether home coverage includes stock, equipment, shipped goods and customer visits.