Online skate shop and custom builds
Sell custom-built skateboards and parts online from home, with local pickup and shipping.
- C$2k-10k
- Side hustle
- From home
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A web shop selling complete boards, parts and a build-your-own service. You assemble boards at home and ship them or hand them over locally.
Your first three steps
- Choose a niche, such as beginner boards, longboards or cruisers, and set a small starting range
- Open trade accounts with a few Canadian distributors or brands and test the build process on a few boards
- Set up a simple online store and share your builds on social media and with local skaters
Who pays
Beginners wanting a ready-to-ride board, skaters after specific setups, and parents shopping for gifts.
How it makes money
Margin on parts and complete boards, plus a build fee for custom assembly. Shipping is charged or built into prices.
Skills that help
- Board assembly and setup knowledge
- Online shop setup and basic photography
- Social media and community building
- Order handling and shipping
Watch out for
- Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and whether zoning allows stock storage
- Home insurance often excludes business stock, so ask about business or product liability cover
- Sales tax: GST/HST, and PST or QST in some provinces, can apply to online sales; check with the CRA and your province
- Shipping costs for large boards and returns can eat into margins
- Tied-up cash in stock, so start small and reorder as items sell
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: online skate shop and custom builds
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start an online skate shop in Canada?
Estimates typically put startup costs at around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on your opening stock, website set-up and assembly tools. Starting small and reordering as items sell can help limit the cash tied up in stock.
How much can an online skate shop earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $500 to $4,000, depending on your range, your audience and your order volume. Shipping costs for large boards and returns can reduce margins, so factor them in.
What rules should I check before selling skateboards online from home?
Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and allows stock storage. Also ask about business or product liability cover, and check GST/HST and any PST or QST on online sales with the CRA and your province.
Other ways to run this business
Similar retail ideas
Home-based formal gown hire
Rent out gowns and formal wear for proms, galas and weddings from a fitting room at home.
- C$2.5k-10k
- Side hustle
- From home
Online silk fabric and scarf store
Sell silk by the metre, plus scarves and accessories, to sewers and designers across Canada from a home base.
- C$2.5k-10k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online womenswear boutique
Sell a carefully chosen range of women's clothing and accessories through your own website and social media.
- C$2k-10k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online coffee beans and brewing gear store
Sell fresh beans and brewing gear through your own website, with one-off orders and optional subscriptions shipped across Canada.
- C$2k-10k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online hobby and model kit store
Sell model kits, paints, craft supplies and games to Canadian enthusiasts from a spare room.
- C$2k-10k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online sportswear store
Sell athletic clothing and footwear online to runners, gym-goers and local clubs.
- C$2k-10k
- Side hustle
- Online