Local outerwear shop for coats and jackets

Local residents, families, workers who need outdoor gear and visitors in tourist areas.

You buy stock at wholesale and sell at retail, with extra sales from accessories. Sales peak in autumn and winter, so plan cash flow for the quiet months.

• Buying and stock planning
• Retail customer service
• Visual merchandising
• Basic bookkeeping

• Commercial general liability and contents insurance
• Lease terms, deposits and what you owe if sales are slow
• Strongly seasonal sales, so plan for cash flow over the warm months
• Check municipal business licence and zoning rules before signing a lease
• Register for GST/HST once revenue passes the small supplier threshold, and check provincial sales tax rules
• In Quebec, check French-language rules for signage and labelling
• Check WCB/WSIB requirements once you hire staff

Startup costs are typically around $25,000 to $100,000, depending on the premises, fit-out and how much stock you buy. These are estimates, so check lease terms and deposits carefully before signing anything.

Monthly revenue is typically around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on location, range and season. This is an estimate before costs and tax. It assumes at least 35 hours a week, and sales are strongly seasonal.

Check municipal business licence and zoning rules before signing a lease, and when to register for GST/HST and provincial sales tax. In Quebec, check French-language rules for signage and labelling. Check WCB/WSIB requirements once you hire staff.