Online door dealer for renovators and builders

Homeowners doing renovations, renovation contractors, small builders and property managers who need doors without searching several shops.

You earn the difference between supplier cost and your selling price on each door and fitting. Repeat orders from contractors and bundled hardware add to this.

• Quoting and basic measuring
• Building a simple website or online catalogue
• Negotiating with suppliers
• Clear communication with trades and homeowners

• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence or limits storage and deliveries at your address
• Commercial general liability insurance, and cover for any stock you hold
• Freight damage and wrong sizes, so agree return and damage terms with suppliers in writing
• Long lead times on special orders can frustrate customers, so be upfront about timing
• Register for GST/HST (and PST or QST where it applies) once you pass the threshold, and check provincial rules
• Check building code and fire-rating requirements in your province for the doors you recommend
• In Quebec, check French-language requirements for your website and documents

Startup costs are estimates, typically around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on your website or catalogue, any storage space, insurance and whether you hold some stock. Skipping a showroom is what keeps the starting cost lower.

Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence or limits storage and deliveries at your address. Also check building code and fire-rating requirements in your province, sales tax registration, and French-language requirements for your website if you serve Quebec.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on how many renovators, builders and homeowners you quote and win. The estimate assumes at least about 15 hours a week.