Online makeup and skincare store

Individual shoppers who buy beauty products for personal use, and people looking for gifts.

You earn the gap between wholesale and retail price on each item. Bundles, gift sets and repeat orders help raise the average sale.

• Choosing products customers will want
• Social media and photography basics
• Order handling and customer service

• Cosmetics sold in Canada must meet Health Canada rules, including ingredient labelling, so check these with your suppliers
• Registering for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold, and check how provincial sales tax applies to you
• Fake or grey-market stock, so buy only from authorized distributors
• Expiry dates and storage, as unsold stock can lose value quickly
• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence if you store stock at home

Startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on how much stock you buy, your website setup and your photography and packaging. Treat this as an estimate and keep some budget for expiry-date losses on unsold stock.

Monthly revenue is typically around $500 to $4,000, depending on your niche, product prices and how well you market the shop. This is an estimate of revenue, not profit, and stock costs and shipping will reduce what you keep.

Check Health Canada rules for cosmetics, including ingredient labelling, with your suppliers. Also check GST/HST registration once you pass the small supplier threshold, how provincial sales tax applies, and buy only from authorized distributors. Check home-based business licence rules if you store stock at home.