Online knife and cutlery store

Home cooks, gift buyers and people setting up a first kitchen, plus some small food businesses.

Mark-up on each item sold, plus extras such as engraving, knife care kits and gift sets that raise the order value.

• Knowing knives, steels and cutlery
• Online selling and photography
• Customer service and handling returns

• Knife shipping rules and any age or sale restrictions on certain blades, check with your province and the carriers you use
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold, and check how provincial sales taxes apply to online sales
• Shipping costs, damage in transit and returns can eat into margins
• Product liability and commercial general liability insurance, ask a broker what you need
• Check import duties and supplier reliability if you buy from outside Canada

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on whether you drop-ship or hold a small stock, and on your website, photography and supplier arrangements. Drop-shipping usually needs less money upfront than holding stock.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $5,000, depending on your range, how much traffic you attract, and how well you control shipping costs, damage in transit and returns, which can eat into margins.

Check knife shipping rules and any age or sale restrictions on certain blades with your province and your carriers. Also check GST/HST registration once you pass the small supplier threshold, how provincial sales taxes apply, and what insurance a broker recommends.