Online lingerie store

Shoppers who prefer buying intimate items privately online, including people in smaller towns with few local options, and gift buyers.

Retail margin on each item sold. Order value rises with bundles, sets and free-shipping thresholds, while a niche range helps you stand out.

• Online selling and basic marketing
• Product photos and descriptions
• Customer service and handling returns

• Returns and exchanges are common with fit-sensitive items, so set a clear policy and budget for the cost
• GST/HST or provincial sales tax on online sales, check CRA and provincial rules
• Home-based business licence rules in your municipality
• Shipping costs across a large country, and customs duties if you import stock
• Privacy rules for customer data, and French-language requirements if you sell to Quebec customers
• Stock tied up in sizes that do not sell, so start small

Startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your opening stock, website setup and shipping supplies. Starting small helps avoid stock tied up in sizes that do not sell. Treat these as estimates.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $5,000, depending on your range, marketing, shipping costs and how many returns and exchanges you handle. These are estimates, not guarantees.

Check GST/HST or provincial sales tax rules on online sales with CRA and your province, plus home-based business licence rules in your municipality. Also check customs duties on imported stock, privacy rules for customer data, and French-language requirements for Quebec customers.