Copier supplies shop with trade counter

Nearby offices, print shops, schools, churches and community groups, plus individuals needing paper or toner the same day.

Retail and trade margins on products, with business accounts and bulk paper orders giving steadier income than walk-in sales.

• Retail and stock management
• Product knowledge across printer and copier brands
• Selling to business accounts
• Basic bookkeeping

• Check with your municipality about a business licence, zoning and signage rules for your location
• Commercial general liability and contents insurance, and a lease you can afford if sales start slowly
• Environmental or recycling fees on cartridges vary by province, so check your provincial program and how to take back used cartridges
• Register for GST/HST and any provincial sales tax, and check which rules apply in your province
• Strong competition from big chains and online sellers, so plan how you will stand out on service and local delivery
• Dry, secure storage for paper stock, and check WCB/WSIB rules in your province if you hire staff

Estimates suggest startup costs typically sit around $25,000 to $80,000, depending on your lease and deposit, how much stock you carry, and the shop fit-out. Plan for a lease you can afford if sales start slowly.

Check your municipality's business licence, zoning and signage rules, plus provincial environmental fees on cartridges and how to take back used ones. Also check insurance, GST/HST and provincial sales tax registration, and WCB/WSIB rules if you hire staff.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $10,000 to $40,000, depending on location, walk-in traffic and business accounts. The estimate assumes at least about 35 hours a week, and competition from big chains and online sellers is strong.