Online cotton fabric and yarn shop

Home sewists, quilters, knitters and crocheters, plus small designers and craft sellers who buy in modest quantities.

You buy at wholesale prices and sell at a markup, by the metre, by the skein or in bundles. Cut-to-order fabric and bulk discounts for craft businesses can raise the order size.

• Knowing fabric types and yarn weights
• Product photography and listings
• Stock and order tracking
• Customer service

• Check textile fibre content and labelling rules for goods you sell, and bilingual or French requirements if you sell in Quebec
• Check whether you need a home-based business licence from your municipality
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold, and check provincial sales tax rules
• If you import, check duties and customs rules with the Canada Border Services Agency
• Unsold stock and colour differences between screen and fabric can lead to returns

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $2,000 to $8,000, depending on how much stock you buy, your website setup and any photography or packaging supplies. Unsold stock can tie up money, so many sellers start with a focused range.

Things to check: textile fibre content and labelling rules, bilingual or French requirements if you sell in Quebec, and whether you need a home-based business licence. Also check GST/HST registration once you pass the small supplier threshold, plus provincial sales tax rules.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your niche, stock range and marketing. Returns from colour differences between screen and fabric can affect results, so describe and photograph products carefully.