Neighbourhood dollar store

Price-conscious families, students, seniors on fixed incomes and anyone after a quick, cheap top-up for the home.

Small margins on many items sold at low fixed price points or in multi-buy deals. Profit depends on buying well, keeping stock moving and keeping rent in check.

• Buying and negotiating with suppliers
• Stock control and shelf merchandising
• Friendly customer service
• Basic bookkeeping

• Check with your municipality about a business licence, zoning and signage rules before signing a lease
• Check how GST/HST and any provincial sales tax apply to your items, and when you must register
• Check Canadian product safety and labelling rules, especially for children's items, cosmetics and imported goods
• Selling packaged food may involve labelling rules and local public health requirements, so check with your health unit
• Quebec has French-language requirements for signs and labelling
• Margins are thin, so rent, theft and unsold stock can erode profit quickly
• Commercial general liability and contents insurance, plus WCB/WSIB once you hire, depending on province

Startup is typically around $30,000 to $120,000, depending on your premises, lease terms, fit-out and opening stock. Treat this as an estimate and get real quotes for your area before signing a lease.

Monthly revenue is typically around $12,000 to $50,000, depending on location, shop size and range. Margins are thin, so rent, theft and unsold stock can erode profit quickly. The estimate assumes at least about 40 hours a week.

Check with your municipality about a business licence, zoning and signage rules before signing a lease. Also check how GST/HST and provincial sales tax apply, product safety and labelling rules, health unit requirements for packaged food, and Quebec French-language rules.