Local door showroom and trade counter

Builders, renovators, carpenters, property managers and homeowners.

You earn a margin on doors, frames and hardware, and charge for delivery or extras such as pre-hanging or cutting to size. Repeat trade accounts give steady sales.

• Product knowledge of doors and hardware
• Stock control and ordering
• Customer service and trade selling

• Commercial lease terms, zoning and signage rules; check with your municipality
• Stock tied up in slow-selling items can strain cash flow, so start with a tight core range
• Commercial general liability and property insurance, plus WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire staff (rules vary by province)
• Lifting heavy doors safely, with proper handling equipment and training
• Register for GST/HST and any provincial sales tax; check with the CRA and your province
• Quebec businesses should check French-language rules for signage and product information
• Winter can slow construction, so plan for seasonal cash flow

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $40,000 to $150,000, depending on your premises, display and opening stock. Monthly revenue is estimated at around $15,000 to $75,000. Treat these as estimates and check them against local rent and supplier quotes.

Check these points: commercial lease terms, zoning and signage rules with your municipality, commercial general liability and property insurance, WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire, GST/HST and provincial sales tax registration, and French-language rules for signage and product information in Quebec.

Useful skills include product knowledge of doors and hardware, stock control and trade customer service. Plan for at least about 40 hours a week. Stock tied up in slow-selling items can strain cash flow, so start with a tight core range and plan for slower winters.