Online cane and rattan furniture store

Homeowners furnishing living rooms, sunrooms and patios, plus small cafés, restaurants and boutique hotels buying in small batches.

You earn the margin between your wholesale price and the retail price, plus delivery charges. Trade orders from hospitality buyers can bring larger single sales.

• Sourcing and negotiating with suppliers
• Basic online shop setup and photography
• Customer service and handling delivery problems

• Import duties, customs paperwork and any plant or wood material rules if you import, check with the Canada Border Services Agency and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• Natural rattan is mainly for indoor use, while outdoor pieces usually need weather-resistant synthetic wicker, so describe each product honestly
• GST/HST and provincial sales tax rules for online sales differ by province, check with the Canada Revenue Agency and your province
• Bulky items are costly to ship and easy to damage, so check carrier rates, packaging and returns before you set prices
• If you sell to Quebec customers, check the French-language requirements for websites and product information
• Commercial general liability and product liability insurance, and a home-based business licence if you store stock at home, check with your municipality

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on whether you hold stock or have suppliers ship direct, plus your website, photography and insurance.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your product range, pricing and how many orders you win. This is revenue, not profit. Plan for at least about 10 hours a week.

Check import duties and customs rules if you import, GST/HST and provincial sales tax for online sales, shipping costs for bulky items, and French-language requirements for Quebec customers. Also check insurance and describe indoor and outdoor suitability honestly.