Build a branded online storefront without holding physical inventory or shipping products
Time: 10-20 hours per week
In this model, customers purchase products through your branded Shopify or WooCommerce store at a retail price. Once an order is placed, you pay a third-party supplier a lower wholesale price to ship the item directly to the customer. You profit from the margin between the retail price and the wholesale cost, minus your advertising expenses. Successful Canadians focus on niche markets like home office gear or pet supplies, managing customer service and marketing while the supplier handles logistics.
Research trending products on Google Trends or TikTok Creative Center. Focus on items with at least a $25 CAD profit margin to ensure you can cover your advertising costs.
Use platforms like AliExpress, DSers, or Spocket to find suppliers. Prioritize those offering shipping to Canada within 10-15 days to keep your domestic customers happy and reduce chargebacks.
Sign up for a Shopify Basic plan at approximately $51 CAD per month. Design a professional site with clear shipping policies, a contact page, and CAD currency conversion tools.
Activate Shopify Payments or PayPal to accept Canadian and international credit cards. Ensure your settings account for GST/HST depending on your annual revenue projections exceeding $30,000 CAD.
Allocate an initial daily budget of $15 to $20 CAD for Facebook or TikTok ads. Test three different ad creatives to see which one generates the lowest cost-per-click.
Analyze your store data to identify bottlenecks. Once you find a winning product, increase your ad spend by 20% every 48 hours to scale your revenue sustainably.
The leading e-commerce platform that handles Canadian tax calculations and local payment processing automatically.
A dropshipping marketplace that connects you with Canadian and US suppliers for faster shipping times.
Essential for tracking product demand specifically within Canadian provinces before launching a store.
A massive directory of manufacturers commonly used for sourcing low-cost goods to test in the market.
Official guidance on reporting your e-commerce income and understanding GST/HST obligations.