Online asian goods shop

Online shoppers across Canada, including people outside big cities who have limited access to Asian specialty shops, and gift buyers.

You sell products at a retail markup, with shipping costs partly or fully passed on to customers. Gift bundles and subscription-style boxes can increase order value.

• Online shop setup
• Product photography and descriptions
• Packing and shipping
• Social media or email marketing

• Home-based business rules, check your municipality for a home business licence and storage limits
• Selling food online may require CFIA licensing and bilingual labelling, so check before adding it
• Imported goods may need to meet Health Canada product safety rules
• Charging GST/HST or provincial sales tax on online sales depends on your registration and the buyer's province, check with the CRA
• Fragile items can break in transit, so budget for good packaging and insurance
• Product liability and commercial general liability insurance

Estimates typically put startup costs at around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how much stock you buy, your online shop setup and packaging. Fragile items can break in transit, so budget for good packaging and insurance.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue of typically around $500 to $4,000, depending on your range, marketing and order volume. Plan for at least about 8 hours a week, and more as orders grow.

Check your municipality for home business licence and storage limits. Check CFIA licensing and bilingual labelling before selling food online, Health Canada product safety rules for imports, and how GST/HST or provincial sales tax applies to buyers in other provinces with the CRA.