Online stationery store

Students, parents, office workers, journaling and planner fans, and people buying small gifts.

You buy at wholesale and sell at a markup. Extra income can come from gift sets, subscription boxes and bulk orders for small businesses.

• Choosing products people want
• Basic online shop setup and photos
• Stock tracking and order packing
• Social media or email marketing

• Registering for GST/HST once your sales pass the small supplier threshold, and checking provincial sales tax rules (PST/QST) where you sell
• Shipping costs and cross-province delivery, which can eat into thin margins
• Seasonal peaks around back-to-school and the holidays, so plan your cash flow
• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence if you store stock at home
• Product safety and labelling rules for items aimed at children, check with Health Canada
• Quebec customers may expect French-language product information and website content

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,000 to $6,000, depending on your initial stock, website setup and whether you hold stock yourself or ship from suppliers. Treat this as an estimate, not a fixed figure.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $5,000, depending on your niche, marketing and range. Sales peak around back-to-school and the holidays, and shipping costs can eat into thin margins, so plan your cash flow.

Check GST/HST registration once sales pass the small supplier threshold, and provincial sales tax rules (PST/QST) where you sell. Also check any home-based business licence, Health Canada rules for items aimed at children, and French-language expectations in Quebec.