Online children's bookshop with pop-ups

Parents, grandparents, gift buyers, teachers and school parent councils.

You buy books at a trade discount and sell at or near the cover price. You earn the difference, plus extra from gift bundles, book boxes and school fair sales.

• Knowing children's books by age group
• Basic online selling and stock tracking
• Friendly customer service at events

• Unsold stock ties up cash, so start small and reorder bestsellers
• Check the rules for collecting GST/HST or PST in your province and register with the CRA when needed
• Market and event fees, plus commercial general liability insurance that some events require
• Check what the Quebec language rules require if you sell there
• Competition from big retailers and online giants, so stay specialised

Startup costs are estimates, typically around $1,500 to $6,000, depending on how much opening stock you buy, your website and your market stall setup. Starting small and reordering bestsellers helps keep cash from being tied up in unsold books.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around $500 to $3,500, depending on your range, how many events you attend and online sales. You would likely need at least about 8 hours a week.

Check the rules for collecting GST/HST or PST in your province and when to register with the CRA. Also check market and event fees, commercial general liability insurance that some events require, and Quebec language rules if you sell there.