Online mattress seller with local delivery

Households who want to compare online but still try a bed first, plus renters, students and people furnishing a new home.

Margin on each mattress and bed sold, plus fees for delivery, set-up, old mattress removal and accessories. Lower rent means more of each sale is kept.

• Online selling and basic website management
• Clear product knowledge and advice
• Scheduling deliveries
• Customer service by phone and email

• Commercial general liability, stock cover and vehicle insurance for deliveries
• Provincial mattress labelling rules and any recycling or environmental fees, check with your provincial regulator
• Sales tax: GST/HST and provincial taxes vary by province, so check how to charge them online
• Return and comfort-trial costs, as bulky returns can be expensive to handle
• Home-based or storage-unit rules, as you may need a municipal licence if customers visit a home
• Winter driving and heavy lifting, so plan delivery days around weather

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on how many models you stock, your showroom or storage space, delivery vehicle and insurance. Return and comfort-trial costs are worth budgeting for too.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on your range, pricing and how many orders you deliver. That is revenue, not profit. Plan for at least about 15 hours a week.

Check provincial mattress labelling rules and any recycling or environmental fees with your provincial regulator. Also check how GST/HST and provincial taxes apply to online sales, municipal licensing if customers visit a home, and your insurance for stock and deliveries.