Novelty and gag gift shop

Shoppers looking for birthday and holiday gifts, teens and students, party planners, tourists and families browsing for fun.

You buy stock at wholesale prices and sell at a markup. Sales usually peak around Halloween, the winter holidays and the summer tourist season, with extras like party supplies and gift wrapping.

• Spotting fun, trending products
• Stock buying and budgeting
• Friendly customer service
• Eye-catching shop displays

• Check your municipality for a business licence and zoning rules for your unit
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold, and check provincial sales tax rules where you live
• Check Health Canada and Canada Consumer Product Safety Act rules for toys and children's products, plus labelling rules, including French requirements in Quebec
• Commercial general liability and contents insurance
• Seasonal sales swings mean cash can be tight in quiet months, so plan for it
• Lease commitments can be long, so read terms carefully before signing

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on the size and location of the unit, shop fit-out and how much opening stock you buy.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on location, stock range and footfall. Seasonal sales swings can make cash tight in quiet months, so plan for it.

Check your municipality's business licence and zoning rules, GST/HST and provincial sales tax, Health Canada and Canada Consumer Product Safety Act rules for toys, labelling rules including French in Quebec, insurance, and the lease terms before signing.