Online niche art supply shop

Hobbyists, students, working artists and teachers who want specialist products they can't easily find in local stores, especially outside big cities.

Retail margin on products bought wholesale, plus curated kits and bundles that raise the average order value.

• Setting up and running an online store
• Product photography and descriptions
• Packing and shipping
• Basic bookkeeping

• Registering for GST/HST, and PST or QST where your province applies it, and charging the right tax by province
• Home-based business licence and zoning rules, check with your municipality
• Shipping limits on some products, such as aerosol sprays, solvents and some pigments, check with carriers
• Heavy and fragile items, which can make shipping costs high and cause breakage
• Competition from big online retailers, so keep to a clear niche
• Insurance for your stock and product liability, check with a broker
• In Quebec, a French-language version of your site and materials may be required, check the rules

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your store setup, initial stock and niche. Check insurance for your stock and product liability with a broker.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your niche, range and marketing. Heavy and fragile items can make shipping costs high and cause breakage, and big online retailers mean a clear niche matters.

Check GST/HST registration, PST or QST where applicable, and charging the right tax by province. Also check home-based business licence and zoning rules, carrier limits on items like aerosols and solvents, and French-language requirements in Quebec.