Natural stone sourcing service

Renovation contractors, stonemasons, landscapers, kitchen and bath designers and homeowners doing a premium project.

You add a margin to the supplier's price on each order. Some suppliers also pay trade commission, and you can charge a delivery or sample-handling fee.

• Sales and quoting
• Organizing orders and deliveries
• Learning stone types, finishes and uses
• Building trade relationships

• Commercial general liability insurance, and check whether you need cargo or goods-in-transit cover
• Damaged or wrong-batch stone: agree returns, colour matching and breakage terms with suppliers in writing
• Deposits and payment terms, since you may have to pay a supplier before your customer pays you
• Customs, duties and GST/HST if you import stone from abroad, so check with a customs broker or the CRA
• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the samples you buy, your home office setup and any supplier deposits. Treat this as an estimate, not a quote, as you may pay suppliers before customers pay you.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on the size of the projects, the trade relationships you build and how many orders you place. These are estimates, and revenue is not profit.

Check commercial general liability insurance and whether you need cargo or goods-in-transit cover. Agree returns, colour matching and breakage terms with suppliers in writing. Check customs, duties and GST/HST if you import, and whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence.