Online baby goods store

Expecting and new parents, plus relatives and friends buying baby shower and newborn gifts.

You buy at wholesale and sell at retail, keeping the margin on each order. Gift sets, bundles and registry-style lists can raise the average order value.

• Choosing products parents trust
• Online selling and basic product photography
• Customer service and handling returns

• Health Canada safety rules for children's products (check the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act and rules for items such as cribs, bottles and toys)
• Product liability and commercial general liability insurance, so ask your insurer what is covered for resold goods
• Charging the correct GST/HST/PST or QST depending on the province your customer is in
• Shipping costs on bulky items and slow-selling stock tying up cash
• If you sell to Quebec customers, check French-language requirements for your website and labelling

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on your product range, how much stock you hold and whether suppliers ship directly to customers. Treat this as a rough estimate.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $5,000, depending on your range, pricing and how many customers you attract. Shipping costs on bulky items and slow-selling stock can affect results. These are revenue estimates.

Check Health Canada safety rules for children's products, including the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act and rules for items such as cribs, bottles and toys. Also check insurance for resold goods, the correct GST/HST/PST or QST, and French-language requirements for Quebec.