Monthly online store management

Run day-to-day online store tasks for small businesses on a monthly fee, so owners can focus on making and selling.

Person managing online store orders on a laptop at a desk.
Startup costC$200 to C$1.5k
Monthly revenueC$1k to C$5k
Time needed10+ h/week
First incomeMonths
  • C$200-1.5k
  • Part-time
  • Online

Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.

What it is

Ongoing care of existing online stores: adding products, updating prices and stock, handling promotions, fixing small problems and sending simple monthly reports.

Your first three steps

  1. Define two or three monthly packages with clear task lists and hours
  2. Contact a few local businesses with online stores and offer a free review of their shop
  3. Set up a simple system for requests, passwords and monthly reports
Who pays

Small retailers, makers and specialty brands that already sell online but have no time or staff to manage the store.

How it makes money

Monthly retainer based on the hours or tasks included, with extra charged for campaigns, seasonal sales or bigger changes.

Skills that help
  • Organised and reliable with routine tasks
  • Knowing store platforms and basic email marketing tools
  • Reading simple sales figures and explaining them plainly
Watch out for
  • Get access through each store's staff or collaborator accounts, never by sharing the owner's password
  • Set clear limits on included hours so retainers do not grow into unpaid work
  • Check privacy obligations when handling customer data, such as PIPEDA and provincial rules
  • Consider professional liability insurance and check GST/HST registration once revenue passes the small supplier threshold

🔒 Full research report for Canada

Real cost breakdown with current prices, licences and registration checklist, local competition, pricing, break-even and a 30-day launch plan, with sources.

Coming soon

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