Online flooring supplier (drop-ship)

Homeowners doing renovations, small installers and renovation contractors who want a simple way to order materials.

You mark up the wholesale price per square foot, plus charges for freight, samples and accessories like underlay and trims.

• Measuring and quoting by square footage
• Sales and customer service
• Organizing orders and deliveries
• Basic website or marketplace skills

• Freight damage and returns: check who pays and how claims work before you sell
• Wood flooring needs to acclimatize and suits some rooms better than others, so give clear guidance to avoid disputes
• Check Canadian rules on formaldehyde emissions for laminate and composite wood products, and ask suppliers for proof of compliance
• Register for GST/HST (and PST or QST where it applies) once you pass the threshold, and check how tax applies to shipments across provinces
• Commercial general liability insurance, and French-language requirements if you sell in Quebec

Startup costs are typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on your website or marketplace setup, insurance and any samples. These are estimates. Drop-shipping from suppliers or a freight depot means you generally don't need a warehouse.

Monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on order volume, product range and how many installers and homeowners you reach. These are estimates, not guarantees. Expect to put in roughly 10 hours a week at minimum.

Check who pays for freight damage and returns, Canadian formaldehyde emission rules for laminate and composite wood, and GST/HST (plus PST or QST where it applies) registration once you pass the threshold. Also check liability insurance and French-language requirements if you sell in Quebec.