Neighbourhood variety shop

Local residents, renters and students, plus older shoppers who want convenient items close to home.

You buy stock from wholesalers or suppliers and sell at a markup. Profit depends on choosing items that sell steadily, keeping rent under control and limiting dead stock.

• Choosing and pricing stock
• Customer service
• Basic bookkeeping and stock control

• Check zoning and any business licence needed from your municipality
• Commercial general liability and contents insurance
• Register for GST/HST (or the Quebec equivalents) once you pass the small supplier threshold
• Lease terms: check the length, rent increases and who pays for repairs
• If you sell items such as cleaning chemicals, batteries or children's products, check Health Canada labelling and safety rules
• Quebec shops must meet French-language signage and labelling requirements, so check with the provincial regulator

Startup costs are estimates, typically around $15,000 to $60,000 CAD, depending on the size of the premises, your opening stock and the lease terms. Check the lease length, rent increases and who pays for repairs.

Monthly revenue is an estimate, typically around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on location, the range you stock and your pricing. Expect to work at least about 40 hours a week running the shop.

Check zoning and any business licence from your municipality, plus liability and contents insurance. Also check GST/HST registration once you pass the small supplier threshold, Health Canada rules for items like cleaning chemicals, and Quebec French-language signage and labelling requirements.