Online baby and toddler clothes shop

New and expecting parents, grandparents and friends buying gifts, often for baby showers and birthdays.

You buy at wholesale and sell at retail price. Gift sets, bundles and personalized items can raise the average order value.

• Spotting good-quality, safe products
• Basic online store setup and product photos
• Stock tracking and order packing
• Friendly customer service

• Canadian product safety rules for children's clothing, such as drawstrings and flammability, so check Health Canada requirements and ask suppliers for compliance information
• Textile labelling rules, including fibre content and care labels, so check with the Competition Bureau
• GST/HST registration once revenue passes the small supplier threshold, and provincial sales tax rules that vary by province
• Unsold stock as sizes and seasons change, so start with small orders
• Shipping costs and returns can eat into margins, especially across provinces

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how much stock you buy, your store setup and photography. Starting with small orders helps limit unsold stock as sizes and seasons change.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $500 to $4,000, depending on your niche, stock and marketing. Shipping costs and returns can eat into margins, especially across provinces, so factor them into your prices.

Check Health Canada requirements for children's clothing, such as drawstrings and flammability, and ask suppliers for compliance information. Also check textile labelling rules with the Competition Bureau, plus GST/HST registration and provincial sales tax rules.