Online comic and graphic novel store

Collectors and readers across Canada who want specific titles, hard-to-find back issues or mail-order pull lists.

Margin on each item sold, with higher margins on sourced back issues and collectibles. Bundles and subscriptions help bring repeat orders.

• Knowing comic values, grading and condition
• Photography and listing items clearly
• Packing and shipping carefully

• GST/HST and provincial sales tax rules for online sales (check with the CRA and your province)
• Home-based business rules in your municipality, including storage and parcel pickups
• Insurance for stock and shipping losses, and checking whether home insurance covers business stock
• Overgrading or misdescribing items leads to returns and disputes
• Marketplace fees and customs costs on cross-border orders can reduce margins

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $1,000 to $8,000, depending on how much stock you buy and how you set up your site or marketplace listings. Marketplace fees and customs costs can reduce your margins.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $500 to $4,000, depending on your stock, pricing and how often you list. That is revenue before costs such as stock, fees and shipping, and the idea needs at least around 8 hours a week.

Check GST/HST and provincial sales tax rules for online sales with the CRA and your province. Also check home-based business rules with your municipality and whether your home insurance covers business stock and shipping losses.