Refurbished appliance shop
Open a small shop or unit selling tested, cleaned appliances with a short warranty and delivery.
- C$10k-50k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A small retail unit or showroom with warehouse space where you sell refurbished appliances. You source, repair, clean and test stock, and offer delivery, installation help and a short warranty.
Your first three steps
- Line up stock sources such as landlords, renovation companies, moving companies and retailers' trade-ins or clearance
- Price rent and a small unit in an affordable industrial or retail area, and compare with your likely sales
- Register your business, get a Business Number and set up GST/HST if needed, then buy your first 15 to 20 appliances
Who pays
Budget-conscious households, landlords and property managers, and people replacing a broken appliance quickly.
How it makes money
Margin on each appliance sold, plus delivery fees, haul-away of old units and paid warranty extensions. Repeat business from landlords can add steady sales.
Skills that help
- Appliance repair or refurbishing
- Buying and pricing used stock
- Customer service and sales
- Basic bookkeeping and stock tracking
Watch out for
- Check zoning and business licence rules with your municipality for a retail unit
- Refrigerant handling and appliance recycling rules differ by province, so check your provincial environment ministry
- Gas and some electrical work may need certified technicians, so check your provincial requirements
- Commercial general liability and product liability insurance, plus property cover for stock
- Collect GST/HST or provincial sales tax as required, and check Quebec's rules and French-language signage requirements if relevant
- Rent and stock tie up cash before sales come in, and heavy lifting needs a van, trolleys and help
- Check WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire staff
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: refurbished appliance shop
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to open a refurbished appliance shop?
Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $10,000 to $50,000, depending on premises, stock and a delivery van or trolleys. Monthly revenue is estimated at about $4,000 to $20,000, depending on your location and how quickly stock sells.
What rules should I check before opening an appliance shop?
Check zoning and business licence rules with your municipality, refrigerant handling and recycling rules in your province, and certified technician requirements for gas and some electrical work. Also check insurance, sales tax collection, Quebec language signage if relevant, and WCB/WSIB when you hire.
How many hours a week does a refurbished appliance shop take?
Estimates suggest at least about 35 hours a week, depending on opening hours and staffing. Useful skills include appliance repair or refurbishing, buying and pricing used stock, customer service, and basic bookkeeping and stock tracking.
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