Home-Based clothing export agent

Independent boutiques, online retailers and small distributors in other countries that want Canadian-made or Canadian-sourced clothing.

You buy at wholesale and sell at a higher price, or earn a commission from the maker. Margins depend on your buying price, freight and duties.

• Sales and negotiating by email and video call
• Organised with paperwork and deadlines
• Comfortable researching foreign markets

• Export reporting and documentation rules: check with the Canada Border Services Agency and your freight forwarder or customs broker
• Import duties, labelling and product rules in the destination country, which differ widely
• Payment risk: consider upfront payment or secure terms, and look at export credit insurance from Export Development Canada
• Check with the Canada Revenue Agency on how GST/HST applies to exported goods
• Only sell branded goods if you have authorization from the brand owner
• Currency swings and shipping delays can squeeze small margins

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on samples, website or marketing, shipping and insurance. Currency swings and shipping delays can squeeze small margins, so budget with a buffer.

Things to check: export reporting and documentation with the Canada Border Services Agency and your freight forwarder or customs broker; destination-country duties and labelling; how GST/HST applies to exports; and authorization from brand owners.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on order sizes, your margins and how many buyers you win. The estimate assumes at least about 10 hours a week. Consider secure payment terms.