Online watch seller and repairer

Online buyers looking for good-value or collectible watches, and people who want a repair or battery change without a shop visit.

Profit on each watch sold, plus flat fees for batteries, straps and basic repairs. Mail-in repairs can reach customers beyond your town.

• Basic watch repair and testing
• Spotting genuine, fairly priced watches
• Product photography and clear listings
• Packing and shipping valuable items

• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and what it allows for customer visits
• Insurance for stock and for customers' watches in your care, plus commercial general liability, since home policies often exclude business use
• Fakes and stolen goods, so verify watches and keep purchase records
• Insure and track parcels with signature, as valuable items are a theft and loss risk
• Register for GST/HST (and PST/QST where it applies) once you pass the small supplier threshold, and check your province's rules

Startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on the stock you buy, your repair tools and how you set up your website or marketplace listings.

Monthly revenue is typically around $500 to $4,000, depending on your stock, pricing and how many repairs you take. It can start at around 8 hours a week, so it can begin part-time.

Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and what it allows for customer visits. Check insurance, since home policies often exclude business use. Verify watches and keep purchase records, and check GST/HST and PST/QST rules for your province.