Surf shop with board and wetsuit rentals

Tourists and beginners renting gear, local surfers buying wetsuits and boards, and surf schools and camps needing rental equipment.

Retail margin on gear sold, daily or hourly rental fees, and extras such as repairs, used board sales or referrals from surf schools. Summer and shoulder seasons carry most of the income.

• Strong knowledge of surfing and surf equipment
• Retail selling and customer service
• Stock buying and inventory control
• Managing seasonal staff and cash flow

• Municipal business licence, zoning and signage rules, check with your municipality
• Commercial general liability insurance, plus cover for rentals and stock, check the terms carefully
• Rental waivers and safety briefings: ask a lawyer or insurer what you need
• Workers' compensation (WCB/WSIB) once you hire staff, rules vary by province
• Long, cold off-season in most of Canada, so check you can cover rent through slow months
• Quebec has French-language requirements for signs and customer service, check if you are opening there
• GST/HST registration and provincial sales tax rules

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $40,000 to $150,000, depending on premises, stock and the size of your rental fleet. Check you can cover rent through the long, cold off-season in most of Canada.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on location, season and your mix of sales and rentals. Selling used boards, simple repairs and surf school partnerships may add income.

Check municipal business licence, zoning and signage rules, plus GST/HST and provincial sales tax. Also check commercial general liability and rental cover, rental waivers with a lawyer or insurer, WCB/WSIB when you hire, and French-language rules in Quebec.