Sunglasses and fashion eyewear shop

Local shoppers, tourists, holidaymakers, gift buyers and people who want a style update or a replacement pair.

Retail margin on each pair sold, plus extras like cases, cords, cleaning kits and small paid repairs.

• Customer service and style advice
• Buying stock and managing inventory
• Basic frame adjustments and repairs

• Check with your municipality about business licences, zoning and signage rules
• Commercial general liability and contents insurance
• Sales come mostly in spring and summer, so plan your cash flow for winter
• Check Health Canada guidance on UV protection claims and labelling, and avoid claims you can't back up
• Prescription lenses are regulated in each province, so check before selling anything beyond non-prescription eyewear
• Counterfeit brands are a legal risk, so buy only from trusted suppliers
• Collect and remit GST/HST and any provincial sales tax, and check Quebec language rules for signs if you open there

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $25,000 to $90,000, depending on the premises, stock and fit-out. Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on location and season.

Check business licence, zoning and signage rules with your municipality, and provincial rules before selling anything beyond non-prescription eyewear. Also check Health Canada guidance on UV claims and labelling, and Quebec sign language rules if you open there.

Estimates suggest at least about 35 hours a week. Sales come mostly in spring and summer, so plan your cash flow for winter, and buy only from trusted suppliers because counterfeit brands are a legal risk.