Online homeware store

People furnishing a first home, refreshing a room, or buying housewarming and wedding gifts.

You buy at wholesale and sell at retail, keeping the margin after shipping, platform fees and returns. Gift sets and bundles can raise the average order size.

• Choosing products with a good eye for style
• Basic photography and online listings
• Organised with stock and orders

• Register for GST/HST with the CRA once you pass the small supplier threshold, and check how provincial sales tax applies to online sales
• Breakage in transit and returns can eat margins, so check packaging and shipping costs
• Check product safety and labelling rules for items like kitchenware, candles and anything for children
• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence, and tell your home insurer if you store stock at home

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on your stock, website and packaging. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $5,000, depending on your range, marketing and order volume.

Check GST/HST registration with the CRA once you pass the small supplier threshold, and how provincial sales tax applies to online sales. Also check product safety and labelling rules for kitchenware, candles and children's items, and whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence.

Estimates suggest at least about 8 hours a week. Breakage in transit and returns can eat into margins, so check packaging and shipping costs, and tell your home insurer if you store stock at home.