Asian household goods shop

Local households, students, newcomers looking for familiar products, home cooks and gift shoppers.

You buy stock at wholesale prices and sell at a markup. Higher-margin items like decor and gifts help balance lower-margin everyday goods.

• Choosing products people want
• Stock control and ordering
• Customer service
• Basic bookkeeping
• Knowing your local community

• Commercial lease terms, deposits and length of commitment
• Municipal business licence and zoning for retail use
• Commercial general liability and contents insurance
• Product safety rules for items like cookware, electrical goods and children's products, check Health Canada requirements
• Import duties and shipping costs if you import directly
• Collecting GST/HST or provincial sales tax, check which applies in your province
• Slower winter foot traffic in some areas, plan your cash flow

Startup costs are typically estimated around $25,000 to $100,000, depending on the lease, deposits, fit-out and how much stock you buy. Check commercial lease terms, deposits and the length of commitment before signing.

Check municipal business licence and zoning for retail use, and Health Canada requirements for items like cookware, electrical goods and children's products. Also check import duties if importing directly, and whether GST/HST or provincial sales tax applies.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on location, range and foot traffic. A shop usually needs about 40 or more hours a week, and slower winter traffic in some areas affects cash flow.