Online sewing notions shop

Home sewists, quilters, knitters, crafters, costume makers and small clothing makers who want choice without driving to a store.

Profit on each item sold, usually bought wholesale and marked up. Curated kits and bundles raise the order value, and shipping is charged or built into prices.

• Knowing sewing supplies well
• Product photos and descriptions
• Stock tracking and packing orders
• Customer service

• Registering for GST/HST (and PST or QST where it applies) once you pass the small supplier threshold, check with the CRA and your province
• Whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence
• Shipping costs across a large country, test your pricing before promising free shipping
• Quebec and bilingual labelling or language rules for products and website, check what applies to you
• Tying up money in slow-selling stock, start small

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $1,000 to $5,000 CAD, depending on how much stock you buy and how you set up your shop. Starting small helps you avoid tying up money in slow-selling stock.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around $300 to $1,500 CAD, depending on your niche, your range and how many orders you ship. That is revenue rather than profit, and the estimate assumes at least about 8 hours a week.

Check with the CRA and your province about registering for GST/HST (and PST or QST where it applies) once you pass the small supplier threshold. Also check home-based business licensing, Quebec bilingual labelling rules, and your shipping costs.