Second-Hand bike shop with repair bench

Local cyclists, students, commuters, families and people who want repairs done without buying a new bike.

Profit on bike sales, plus repair labour and parts, and sometimes accessories like locks, lights and helmets. Repairs can help smooth out slower sales months.

• Solid bike mechanics
• Valuing used bikes fairly
• Customer service and basic bookkeeping

• Check municipal zoning, business licence and signage rules for your location
• Commercial general liability insurance, plus cover for stock and tools, and check what your landlord requires
• Stolen bikes: keep records of who you buy from and check local rules for second-hand dealers, some municipalities require them to keep records
• Strong seasonality in colder regions: plan for a quiet winter, perhaps with a repair and storage focus
• Register for GST/HST and check how your province applies sales tax to used goods
• Check WCB or WSIB rules in your province before hiring staff

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $12,000 to $50,000, depending on your rent and fit-out, the amount of stock you buy, workshop tools and insurance. Treat this as an estimate and check what your landlord requires.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on your sales volume, repair work, pricing and the quiet winter months in colder regions. The estimate assumes at least about 35 hours a week.

Check municipal zoning, business licence and signage rules, liability and stock insurance, local rules and record-keeping for buying second-hand bikes, GST/HST and how your province applies sales tax to used goods, and WCB or WSIB rules before hiring.