Online audio store with in-home setup

Households who want better sound or a tidy home system but don't want to shop in a big store or work out the setup alone.

Margin on equipment sold, plus a fee for home consultations, installation and setup. Starting with a small range or drop-shipped items keeps stock low.

• Good knowledge of speakers, amps and streaming gear
• Clear, friendly explanations for non-experts
• Basic online shop management and customer service

• Check each brand's rules on online selling and pricing before listing its products
• Fragile, heavy goods can be costly to ship and return, so price this in
• Commercial general liability insurance, including cover for work in customers' homes, is worth checking
• Check GST/HST and provincial sales tax rules for online sales, and any electronics recycling fees
• In-wall wiring or mains work may need a licensed electrician in your province, so check before offering it
• A home-based business licence may be needed from your municipality, and Quebec has French-language rules for websites

Estimates are typically around $5,000 to $25,000 to start, depending on the range you stock and how you set up your website. Shipping fragile, heavy goods can be costly, so price delivery and returns in.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on your range, how many setup visits you offer and how you market. Estimates start at about 10 hours a week, with more as orders grow.

Things to check: each brand's rules on online selling and pricing; whether in-wall wiring or mains work needs a licensed electrician in your province; liability insurance covering work in homes; GST/HST and provincial sales tax; recycling fees; home-based licence; Quebec website language rules.