Online janitorial supplies with local delivery

Small cleaning firms, property and building managers, schools, churches, offices and local businesses that buy equipment regularly.

You buy at wholesale and sell at a markup. Repeat orders, bundles for new cleaning firms and delivery fees add to the margin.

• Knowing cleaning tools and machines
• Basic online shop setup
• Building trade relationships
• Organising orders and stock

• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence if you store stock at home
• Register for GST/HST (and PST or QST where it applies) once you pass the small supplier threshold, and check how tax applies when you ship to other provinces
• Commercial general liability and product liability insurance in case equipment causes damage or injury
• Heavy machines can be costly to ship and return, so set clear delivery and returns policies
• Thin margins on commodity items, so compete on service and bundles rather than price alone
• Quebec businesses should check French-language requirements for websites and labelling

Startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on your website, the stock you hold at home and any delivery set-up. These are estimates, so check wholesaler prices and minimum orders first.

Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence if you store stock at home, how GST/HST, PST or QST applies including shipping to other provinces, and product liability insurance. Quebec businesses should also check French-language requirements.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your customers and order sizes. Margins on commodity items can be thin, so bundles and good service help. Hours start at about 10 a week.