Online sheet music store

Music students and their parents, private teachers, school music programs, church and community choirs, and hobby musicians.

You earn the margin between wholesale and retail price on each item. Extra income can come from teacher bundles, back-to-school orders and shipping fees.

• Knowing music and what players need
• Organizing stock and orders
• Customer service
• Basic online selling skills

• Copyright: only sell music from legitimate publishers or licensed sources, and never photocopy or reprint copyrighted music. Check what rights you need for any digital or arranged music
• Sales tax: check GST/HST, provincial sales tax and Quebec rules, including how they apply to digital downloads
• If you sell to Quebec customers, check French-language requirements for your website
• Check whether your municipality needs a home-based business licence
• Stock risk: editions change and slow sellers tie up cash, so start with small orders

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $6,000, depending on your website, the stock you buy and your niche. Starting with small orders helps, since slow sellers can tie up your cash.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $4,000, depending on your niche, stock range and how well you reach teachers and players. Editions change, so slow sellers can hold back your income.

Check copyright: only sell from legitimate publishers or licensed sources. Check GST/HST, provincial sales tax and Quebec rules, including digital downloads, French-language website requirements for Quebec customers, and any home-based business licence.