Online beauty supply store

Independent stylists, nail technicians and estheticians, plus members of the public looking for products that local stores don't stock.

You buy at wholesale prices and sell at retail, with a lower price for professionals who order in bulk. Repeat orders from regular customers matter most.

• Product knowledge in your chosen niche
• Basic online shop setup and photos
• Organising stock and orders

• Check with Health Canada's rules on cosmetics labelling and ingredients, including bilingual (English and French) labels for products you sell
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold, and check how provincial sales tax applies to online sales
• Many brands only sell to licensed professionals or have reseller agreements, so check your supplier terms
• Home-based business licence rules differ by municipality, and check your home insurance covers stock
• Shipping costs and returns can cut into margins, especially for liquids and large parcels

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on your opening stock, online shop set-up, photos and packaging. A focused niche range can help keep initial stock manageable.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $4,000, depending on your range, prices and how many customers you reach. These are revenue estimates before stock, shipping and returns, which can cut into margins.

Check Health Canada's cosmetics labelling and ingredient rules, including bilingual labels, and GST/HST registration and provincial sales tax on online sales. Also check supplier terms, since some brands sell only to licensed professionals, and your municipality's home-based business rules.