Online fashion accessories store

Shoppers across Canada who buy accessories online, often found through Instagram, TikTok or search, and gift buyers.

You buy stock at wholesale and sell at retail, keeping the margin after shipping, payment fees and returns. Bundles and gift sets can raise the average order.

• Spotting trends and choosing stock
• Product photos and social media
• Order handling and customer service

• Register as a sole proprietor or corporation with your province, and check when you must register for GST/HST
• Check whether you must charge provincial sales tax (PST or QST) where your customers live
• Check import duties and customs if you source stock from abroad
• Copycat or counterfeit designer goods can lead to legal trouble, so buy only from trusted suppliers
• Shipping cost and returns can eat into margins, so price carefully

Estimated startup costs are typically around $500 to $4,000, depending on how much stock you buy, your website and photography. Shipping and returns can eat into margins, so price carefully.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $300 to $3,500, depending on your range, pricing and how well you reach shoppers online. These are estimates, so test with a small range first.

Check how to register as a sole proprietor or corporation in your province, when to register for GST/HST, and whether PST or QST applies where customers live. Also check import duties if sourcing abroad, and avoid counterfeit designer goods.