Online footwear wholesaler, little or no stock

Small independent shops and online sellers that want a wider range without dealing with overseas factories or large minimum orders.

You earn the gap between the supplier's price to you and your wholesale price to the shop. Some suppliers instead pay a commission on orders you bring in.

• Online selling and email outreach
• Building supplier relationships
• Order tracking and customer service
• Basic bookkeeping

• Supplier reliability, since you depend on their stock levels and shipping times
• Who handles duties, GST/HST and customs when goods ship from outside Canada
• Returns and wrong-size policies, so agree them with the supplier before selling
• Registering for GST/HST once your sales pass the small supplier threshold, check with the Canada Revenue Agency
• Commercial general liability insurance and clear written terms with each supplier
• Whether your agreement gives you the right to resell the brand in Canada

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how you set up your catalogue and whether you hold a few fast-selling lines. Agree clear written terms with each supplier before you start selling.

Monthly revenue estimates typically run around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how many shops you sell to and which lines you offer. Since you rely on suppliers' stock levels and shipping times, supplier reliability matters.

Check who handles duties, GST/HST and customs when goods ship from outside Canada, and whether your agreement gives you the right to resell the brand in Canada. Also check GST/HST registration once sales pass the small supplier threshold with the Canada Revenue Agency.