Phone accessory kiosk or small shop

Walk-in phone owners, shoppers who have just cracked a screen or lost a charger, and people buying gifts.

Retail margin on each accessory, plus a fitting fee or bundles (case plus protector). Cases and cables usually carry the best margins.

• Friendly retail selling
• Stock buying and ordering
• Careful hands for fitting screen protectors
• Basic bookkeeping

• Mall kiosk leases can be long and costly, so read the terms and ask about seasonal rent
• Budget for the kiosk fit-out, lease deposits and opening stock, which together often make up most of the startup cost
• Commercial general liability insurance and cover for stock against theft
• Check your municipality for a business licence and any signage rules
• Charge and sell only certified chargers and batteries, as cheap uncertified ones can be a safety risk and may not meet Canadian standards
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold, and check provincial sales tax rules
• Selling counterfeit or branded-lookalike goods can lead to legal trouble, so buy from reputable suppliers

Estimates are typically around $20,000 to $60,000, depending on the kiosk fit-out, lease deposits and opening stock, which together often make up most of the cost. Read mall lease terms and ask about seasonal rent.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on your location, foot traffic, range and pricing. Treat this as revenue, not profit, since rent and stock take a share.

Check your municipality for a business licence and signage rules, plus insurance for liability and stock theft. Sell only certified chargers and batteries that meet Canadian standards, buy from reputable suppliers to avoid counterfeits, and check GST/HST and provincial sales tax.