Sports card shop with trading space

Local collectors, parents buying for kids, returning adult collectors and people selling collections.

Margin on sealed products, supplies and singles, plus buying collections below resale value. Event entry fees and online sales can add to it.

• Strong card and pricing knowledge
• Customer service and community building
• Inventory and cash flow management
• Online selling

• Commercial lease terms and rent, as retail rent can be your biggest cost
• Commercial general liability and contents insurance, plus theft protection for high-value cards
• Municipal business licence and signage rules, check with your city
• GST/HST and provincial sales tax rules, which vary by province
• Supplier allocation of hot products can be limited for new shops
• Prices of sealed products and singles can change fast, so manage stock carefully

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $25,000 to $100,000, depending on the premises, stock and fit-out. Retail rent can be your biggest cost, so check commercial lease terms carefully before you commit.

Check your commercial lease terms, commercial general liability and contents insurance, and theft protection for high-value cards. Also check municipal business licence and signage rules with your city, and GST/HST and provincial sales tax rules, which vary by province.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on your location, stock and events. The estimate assumes at least 40 hours a week. Prices of sealed products and singles can change fast, so manage stock carefully.