Camping gear shop

Campers, hikers, paddlers, families heading to provincial parks and people planning their first trip.

Markup on gear sold, plus extras such as rentals, waterproofing and repairs. Sales peak in spring and summer, so plan cash for the quieter months.

• Knowing camping gear well
• Customer service and advice
• Buying and stock control
• Basic bookkeeping

• Retail business licence and zoning for your premises, check with your municipality
• Register for GST/HST and check provincial sales tax rules (PST or QST apply in some provinces)
• Commercial general liability and contents insurance
• Heavy seasonality: stock bought in advance can sit unsold, so keep orders small at first
• Selling fuel canisters or stoves may have storage and fire code rules, check with your local fire department
• Quebec has French-language signage and labelling requirements, check with the provincial authority

Startup costs are typically around $30,000 to $120,000, depending on your premises, fit-out and opening stock. Monthly revenue is estimated at around $6,000 to $30,000. These are estimates, so keep early orders small and test what sells.

Check with your municipality for a retail business licence and zoning for your premises. Register for GST/HST and check provincial sales tax rules. Selling fuel canisters or stoves may have storage and fire code rules, so ask your local fire department.

Demand is heavily seasonal, so stock bought in advance can sit unsold. The estimate is at least around 40 hours a week. Keep orders small at first and plan your cash flow around the quieter months.