Online branded merchandise store for businesses

Small businesses, start-ups, event organizers, clubs and workplaces ordering uniforms, gifts or giveaways, often in small or repeat batches.

A markup on each product and printing job, with higher order values from bulk quotes and repeat clients. Some sellers also offer company stores where staff order items themselves.

• Comfortable building and running an online store
• Digital marketing basics such as search and social media
• Customer service and clear written communication

• Check when you must register for and charge GST/HST or provincial sales tax in the provinces you sell to
• Check consumer and privacy rules for collecting customer data, including Quebec's French-language requirements if you sell there
• Supplier delays and quality problems can reflect on you, so test suppliers before promising dates
• Check that clients have the rights to the logos they upload
• Shipping across Canada can be costly, so build it into your prices
• Ask your insurer whether you need product liability cover

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $800 to $5,000, depending on how you build your website and set up supplier and printing partners. Printers often produce and ship the goods for you.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $400 to $4,000, depending on how many business customers you attract and how often they reorder. The estimate assumes at least about 10 hours of work a week.

Things to check: when you must register for and charge GST/HST or provincial sales tax where you sell, consumer and privacy rules for customer data, Quebec's French-language requirements if you sell there, and whether clients have the rights to logos they upload.