Neighbourhood tire shop with a fitting bay
Sell and fit new and used tires for local drivers and small fleets, with seasonal winter and summer swaps.
- C$30k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A small unit with one or two service bays where you sell new and used tires, mount and balance them, and do seasonal swaps. You can add tire storage and basic repairs such as punctures.
Your first three steps
- Price out a tire changer, balancer and compressor (new and used), and compare rents for small units zoned for auto work
- Open accounts with two or three tire distributors and get their wholesale pricing and delivery terms
- Check zoning, business licence and tire disposal requirements with your municipality and provincial tire stewardship program
Who pays
Local drivers, small businesses with a few vehicles, delivery and trades fleets, and used car dealers.
How it makes money
Margin on tires sold, labour charges for fitting, balancing and seasonal swaps, and extras like tire storage, valve stems and repairs.
Skills that help
- Mechanical aptitude and comfort with heavy lifting
- Customer service and clear quoting
- Stock buying and managing supplier accounts
Watch out for
- Zoning and a business licence for an auto service premises, check with your municipality
- Provincial tire stewardship or environmental fees on new tires and rules for used tire disposal, which vary by province
- Rules on selling used tires and any winter tire requirements, for example Quebec has seasonal winter tire rules, check your province
- Commercial general liability and garage keepers insurance, plus WCB/WSIB coverage if you hire
- Strong seasonal peaks in spring and fall, so plan staffing and cash flow for quiet months
- Fire code and storage rules for large tire inventory
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: neighbourhood tire shop with a fitting bay
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a tire shop in Canada?
Startup costs are typically around $30,000 to $120,000, depending on your premises, fitting equipment and how much tire stock you buy. Treat this as an estimate and plan for storage space and supplier accounts.
How much can a tire shop earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $12,000 to $60,000, depending on your location, your mix of sales and fitting work, and the season. This is an estimate of revenue, not profit, and spring and fall peaks mean quiet months need planning.
What licences and rules should I check before opening a tire shop?
Check zoning and a business licence for an auto service premises with your municipality. Also check provincial tire stewardship or environmental fees, rules for used tires and disposal, winter tire requirements in your province, insurance, WCB/WSIB coverage if you hire, and fire code rules for storage.
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