Online sports nutrition store

Regular trainers across Canada, including people in smaller towns with no specialist shop nearby.

Markup on products sold through your website, plus subscriptions or bundles for repeat buyers. Shipping charges or free-shipping thresholds affect your margin.

• Setting up an online store
• Online marketing and social media
• Packing, shipping and inventory tracking

• Health Canada rules on natural health products, including product licence numbers (NPN). Check each product before listing it
• Bilingual labelling and French-language rules if you sell into Quebec. Check with your provincial regulator
• Collecting the right GST/HST/PST depending on where customers are. Check with the CRA and your province
• Product liability insurance, and rules on storing stock at home. Check your municipality for home-based business licence rules
• Shipping in winter, including delays and heat or cold damage to some products
• Avoid health or medical claims in your product descriptions and ads

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $20,000, depending on how much stock you buy, your website setup and insurance. Using a supplier that ships for you may change what you spend.

Check Health Canada rules on natural health products, including NPN numbers, for each product before listing it. Also check bilingual labelling for Quebec, GST/HST/PST by customer location, product liability insurance and home business rules.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around $1,000 to $12,000, depending on your niche, marketing and stock. The estimates assume at least about 10 hours a week, and winter shipping delays are worth planning for.