Online silk fabric and scarf store

Home sewers, dressmakers, bridal and costume makers, small designers and gift shoppers.

Profit on each metre of fabric and each accessory sold, plus small extras like swatch packs and cut-to-order bundles. Repeat customers matter most.

• Knowing fabrics and how they behave when sewn
• Product photography and writing clear descriptions
• Packing, shipping and stock tracking

• Sales tax: check with the Canada Revenue Agency about GST/HST and provincial taxes on online sales
• Import duties and customs if you buy from overseas mills, and the extra lead time
• Check textile and fibre content labelling rules with Competition Bureau Canada, including bilingual requirements
• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence
• Colours looking different on screen, which can lead to returns, so offer swatches
• Stock tied up in fabric, so start with a small range

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $2,500 to $10,000, depending on how much stock you buy, your website, photography and packing supplies. Starting with a small range keeps less money tied up in fabric.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on your range, pricing and how well you reach sewers and designers. That is revenue before stock and costs, and estimates suggest at least about 10 hours a week.

Check GST/HST and provincial taxes with the Canada Revenue Agency, import duties if buying from overseas mills, and textile and fibre content labelling rules with Competition Bureau Canada, including bilingual requirements. Also check if your municipality requires a home-based business licence.