Online greeting card shop with craft market stalls

Online shoppers looking for something more personal than a store card, and market visitors buying on impulse, especially before holidays.

You sell cards singly or in multipacks, with wrapping and small stationery as add-ons. Stalls and online orders both bring sales, and the busiest months are around the main card-giving holidays.

• Product photography and simple online listings
• Packing and posting orders
• Friendly selling at a stall
• Basic design if you make your own cards

• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence, and any zoning rules for storing stock at home
• Register for GST/HST (and PST or QST where it applies) once you pass the small supplier threshold
• If you use other people's artwork, check you have permission or a wholesale agreement, and don't copy designs
• Stall fees, postage costs and Canada Post rates can eat into margins, so price with them in mind
• Check whether your home insurance covers business stock, and look at commercial general liability for market stalls

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $800 to $5,000, depending on your stock, whether you design your own cards and your stall fees. Postage and Canada Post rates can eat into margins, so price with them in mind.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $300 to $3,000, depending on your products, online sales and how many markets you attend. Stall fees and postage costs can reduce your margins.

Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and any zoning rules for storing stock. Register for GST/HST (and PST or QST where it applies) once past the small supplier threshold. If you use other people's artwork, check you have permission.