Online screen printing supply shop

Hobby printers, artists, small clothing brands, school and club groups, and small print shops that need quick top-ups.

Mark-up on products, starter kits and bundles, and bulk discounts on blank garments. Repeat orders for ink and consumables are the steady earner.

• Knowing screen printing products well enough to advise
• Online selling and basic bookkeeping
• Stock and order organisation
• Clear customer service

• Shipping rules for solvents, aerosols and some chemicals; check Transportation of Dangerous Goods requirements and carrier restrictions
• Safety data sheets and WHMIS labelling expectations when you sell chemical products
• GST/HST registration once you pass the small supplier threshold, plus provincial sales tax rules that vary by province
• Home-based business licence rules in your municipality, and whether your home insurance covers stock
• Tied-up cash in slow-moving stock, and shipping costs on heavy items like ink tubs and garment boxes

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how much stock you hold, your website and your home storage. Cash can get tied up in slow-moving stock, so plan your first order carefully.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on your product range, customer base and shipping costs. The estimate is for at least about 10 hours a week. Revenue is not profit.

Check Transportation of Dangerous Goods requirements and carrier restrictions for solvents and aerosols, plus safety data sheet and WHMIS labelling expectations. Also check GST/HST and provincial sales tax rules, home-based licence rules, and whether your home insurance covers stock.