Online garden furniture store

Homeowners and renters across your region or Canada who prefer to compare and order outdoor furniture from home.

Markup on each item sold, plus optional charges for delivery and add-ons like covers and cushions. Keeping stock low reduces cash tied up, but check margins after shipping costs.

• Online selling and basic website setup
• Product photography and descriptions
• Supplier and order management
• Customer service

• Bulky items are costly to ship and damage in transit, so check carrier rates, packaging and returns policies
• Register for GST/HST and check provincial sales tax rules for online sales into other provinces
• If you import stock, check customs duties, import rules and product safety requirements
• Check product safety rules for items like fire pits and heaters before you list them
• Strong seasonality, with most sales in spring and summer
• In Quebec, check French-language requirements for your website and product information
• Check for a home-based business licence if you store stock at home, and review product liability insurance

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $20,000, depending on whether suppliers ship direct or you hold some stock, and how much you spend on your website and photography.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,500 to $10,000, depending on your range, marketing and shipping costs. Sales are strongly seasonal, with most in spring and summer, so plan your cash flow.

Check carrier rates, packaging and returns for bulky items, GST/HST and provincial sales tax on sales into other provinces, and import duties if you bring in stock. Also check product safety for fire pits and heaters, and French-language rules in Quebec.