Online Dinnerware and Tableware Store

Households setting up or refreshing a kitchen, gift buyers, couples building wedding registries and small cafes or restaurants buying small quantities.

You buy at wholesale prices and sell at retail with a markup. Extra income comes from gift sets, bundles and shipping or gift-wrapping charges.

• Choosing products that sell
• Basic online store set-up and photography
• Careful packing and customer service

• Breakage in transit: use strong packaging and check carrier insurance
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold, and check how provincial sales tax applies to online sales
• Check import duties and rules if you buy from outside Canada
• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence if you store stock at home
• Product labelling and safety rules for tableware (check Health Canada guidance on lead and cadmium release from ceramics)
• Commercial general liability and product liability insurance

Startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on whether you hold stock or have suppliers ship directly, plus your website, photography and packaging. These are estimates, and a focused range helps keep costs down.

Monthly revenue is typically around $500 to $4,000, depending on your range, pricing and how well you reach gift buyers and households. Breakage in transit can reduce what you keep, so good packaging matters.

Check when to register for GST/HST and how provincial sales tax applies to online sales, and import duties if you buy from outside Canada. Also check Health Canada guidance on lead and cadmium release from ceramics, home-based business licence rules, and insurance.