Online leather goods shop

Individual shoppers buying for themselves or as gifts, including people looking for durable, well-made items.

Profit on each item sold, with extras such as monogramming or personalization. Gift seasons usually bring your busiest weeks.

• Product photography and listing writing
• Customer service by email and message
• Basic bookkeeping and stock tracking

• Register for GST/HST once revenue passes the small supplier threshold, and check provincial sales tax rules for your province
• Check product labelling rules and honest descriptions, such as what counts as genuine leather
• Shipping costs, returns and customs for cross-border orders can eat into margins
• Check whether your municipality needs a home-based business licence

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on whether you buy wholesale from makers or make items yourself, and on your stock, photography and website setup.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $300 to $3,000, depending on your products, pricing and how many orders you attract. Plan on at least about 8 hours a week for listings, orders and customer messages.

Things to check: GST/HST registration once revenue passes the small supplier threshold, provincial sales tax rules, and labelling and honest descriptions such as what counts as genuine leather. Also check whether your municipality needs a home-based business licence.