Home-based fabric export agent

Overseas fashion labels, small garment makers, furniture and upholstery firms, and importers looking for a specific kind of fabric.

A commission from the mill or a margin added to the mill price on each order, with repeat orders from the same buyers building income over time.

• Sales and negotiation
• Clear written communication with buyers abroad
• Organised with paperwork and deadlines
• Knowledge of fabrics and how they are used

• Check export reporting rules with the Canada Border Services Agency and whether any export permit applies to your products
• Check how GST/HST applies to exports and when you need to register with the Canada Revenue Agency
• Payment risk with new overseas buyers: look at letters of credit, deposits or export credit insurance
• Import duties, fibre content and labelling rules in the destination country
• Commercial general liability insurance and a written agreement with each mill

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on your samples, communication tools, travel and how much you spend finding overseas buyers. Mills ship direct, so you hold no stock.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $6,000, depending on how many buyers you win, the size of their orders and whether you earn a margin or a commission. These are estimates, not guarantees.

Check export reporting rules with the Canada Border Services Agency and whether any export permit applies to your products. Also check how GST/HST applies to exports, plus import duties, fibre content and labelling rules in the destination country.