Seasonal windsurfing shop and hire hut

Recreational windsurfers, beginners trying the sport, holidaymakers and local clubs or schools wanting kit.

Retail margin on gear and accessories, plus hourly, daily and weekly hire fees. Used gear and end-of-season sales help move stock. Revenue is concentrated in a few peak summer months and varies a lot with wind, weather and location, so the figures here are monthly averages across the operating season only.

• Knowing windsurfing kit and how to match it to a customer's level
• Basic repair and maintenance
• Customer service and sales
• Stock buying and budgeting

• Permission to operate on public beaches, parks or conservation land. Check with your municipality, park authority or conservation authority
• Commercial general liability insurance that specifically covers equipment hire, and customer waivers
• Transport Canada rules on lifejackets and safety kit for hire customers. Check what applies to your waters
• A short season with weather risk, so plan cash flow for the months with no sales
• Money tied up in stock and hire kit that loses value, and storage over winter
• GST/HST or provincial sales tax registration, plus WCB/WSIB coverage if you hire staff (rules differ by province)

Startup costs are typically around $25,000 to $90,000, depending on your premises, stock and hire kit. These are estimates. Stock and hire kit lose value over time, and you will need winter storage.

Check permission to operate on public beaches, parks or conservation land with your municipality or park authority. Also check insurance covering equipment hire and customer waivers, Transport Canada lifejacket and safety rules, GST/HST or provincial sales tax, and WCB/WSIB if you hire staff.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $4,000 to $16,000, depending on location, weather and your mix of sales and hire. Plan for at least about 30 hours a week. The season is short, so plan cash flow for the months with no sales.