Online mobile home parts and supplies shop

Mobile and manufactured home owners, park landlords and managers, and handy repair people who struggle to find these parts locally.

Margin on each product sold, with extra from bundles such as winterizing kits and from repeat orders for seasonal maintenance items.

• Knowing how mobile homes are built and what parts they use
• Basic online selling and photography
• Clear customer service and order handling

• Registering for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold, and checking provincial sales tax rules for online sales
• Gas, propane and electrical parts: check which items need certification and avoid giving installation advice you are not qualified for
• Bulky items can cost a lot to ship and return, so work out shipping before you set prices
• Product liability insurance, and French-language rules if you sell into Quebec
• Demand is seasonal, with winterizing and skirting items peaking before cold weather

Startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how much stock you hold, your website and the range you offer. These are estimates, and supplier shipping can reduce the stock you carry.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your product range, pricing and marketing. Demand is seasonal, with winterizing and skirting items peaking before cold weather, so treat this as an estimate.

Check GST/HST registration and provincial sales tax rules for online sales. Check which gas, propane and electrical parts need certification, and avoid installation advice you are not qualified for. Also check product liability insurance, shipping costs for bulky items, and Quebec French-language rules.