Online safety gear supplier for small employers

Small contractors, landscapers, warehouses, farms, restaurants and other small employers who need to keep their workplace compliant.

Mark-up on each product, plus repeat orders from regular customers. Bundles such as site starter kits or first aid refills help raise the order value.

• Learning which products suit which jobs
• Basic online shop setup
• Customer service and follow-up
• Organised ordering and record keeping

• Check that products meet the relevant CSA standards (for example for hard hats, eyewear and footwear) and are properly marked
• Do not make compliance claims about what an employer needs; rules differ by province and industry, so point them to their provincial regulator
• Check whether you need to register for GST/HST or PST once sales pass the threshold, and what applies in your province
• Product liability insurance as well as commercial general liability, check with a broker
• Product labels and signage may need to be bilingual, and Quebec has French-language requirements
• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence if you hold stock at home

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $1,000 to $6,000, depending on whether you use a wholesaler's dropship service or hold a small amount of stock, and on your website setup and insurance.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $500 to $4,000, depending on your range, pricing and how many small employers you reach. Revenue is not profit, so allow for product, shipping and website costs.

Check that products meet the relevant CSA standards and are properly marked. Don't make claims about what an employer legally needs; point them to their provincial regulator. Also check GST/HST or PST registration, bilingual labelling, Quebec French-language requirements and product liability insurance.