Wallpaper and decorating supplies shop

Homeowners renovating, interior designers, painters and trade decorators who want a local supplier.

Margin on wallpaper and supplies, with extra from trade accounts, special orders and add-ons like paste, primer and tools.

• Eye for colour and pattern
• Customer advice and selling
• Stock ordering and organising
• Basic knowledge of wallpaper types and hanging

• Commercial general liability and contents insurance, check what your landlord requires
• Business licence and zoning for retail, check with your municipality
• Register for GST/HST (and PST or QST where your province applies) once required, check with the CRA and your province
• Quebec has French-language signage and service rules, check them if you open there
• Special-order rolls can be hard to return, so set a clear returns policy
• Slow trade in a small market, and lease commitments are a real risk

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $25,000 to $100,000, depending on the premises, fit-out, sample books and how much stock you hold. Treat this as an estimate and cost your own lease and inventory.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on your location, product range and trade customers. Trade can be slow in a small market, and lease commitments are a real risk.

Check your municipality's business licence and retail zoning, liability and contents insurance, and what your landlord requires. Also check GST/HST (and PST or QST where applicable) with the CRA and your province, and French-language signage rules if you open in Quebec.