Second-Hand Bookshop with a Storefront

Local readers, students, gift buyers, tourists and people selling books they no longer want.

Margin on books bought cheaply and resold, plus trade-in credit that keeps customers returning. Online listings and local events can add extra income.

• Knowing books and valuing stock
• Friendly customer service
• Basic bookkeeping
• Merchandising and display

• Buying from the public may trigger second-hand dealer or secondhand goods rules in some municipalities or provinces, so confirm before you start buying over the counter
• Commercial rent and lease terms, since rent is usually the biggest fixed cost, so read any lease carefully
• Commercial general liability and contents insurance
• GST/HST registration and how provincial sales tax applies in your province
• Slow, seasonal winters may cut foot traffic, so plan cash reserves
• Check WCB/WSIB requirements before hiring staff
• Quebec has French-language signage and business rules, so check them if you open there

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $10,000 to $50,000, depending on the size and location of the shop, your opening stock and the fit-out. Rent is usually the biggest fixed cost, so read any lease carefully.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your location, stock and foot traffic. Estimates point to at least about 35 hours a week. Winters can be slow in some places, so plan cash reserves.

Check whether buying from the public triggers second-hand dealer or secondhand goods rules in your municipality or province. Also check lease terms, insurance, GST/HST and provincial sales tax, WCB/WSIB before hiring, and French-language signage rules if you open in Quebec.