Online artificial plant and flower shop

Homeowners, office managers, small businesses, event decorators and stagers.

The mark-up between wholesale and retail prices, plus higher-value bulk orders and custom arrangements for businesses.

• Choosing products that look realistic
• Basic online shop setup and photography
• Customer service and order handling

• Register for GST/HST once revenue passes the small supplier threshold, and check how provincial sales taxes apply to online sales
• Large or fragile items can be costly to ship, so work out shipping and returns before setting prices
• Check import duties and delivery times if buying from overseas suppliers
• Check whether you need a business licence if you store stock at home
• Check that your business name is registered with your province

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on whether you hold stock or ship direct from suppliers, and how much you spend on your website and photography. Treat this as an estimate and check your own costs.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $500 to $4,000, depending on your niche, product range and how many customers you reach. Revenue is not profit, so allow for stock, shipping and returns.

Check when to register for GST/HST and how provincial sales taxes apply to online sales. Check import duties and delivery times for overseas suppliers, whether storing stock at home needs a business licence, and whether your business name must be registered with your province.