You should take several steps to launch an e-commerce venture. First, you should find a niche.
Next, you should choose a province to headquarter your business. After that, you should check the provincial and federal laws your company needs to observe.
The fourth step is to build a business website and find a hosting provider. Finally, you should develop a marketing strategy to spread the word about your business.
Five Easy Steps to Start an Online Business
You can take the above steps in a different order, skip some of them, or add new ones as needed. Before you start off, make sure you have a business plan in place.
1. Find a niche
Currently, the three trendiest online business opportunities in Canada are drop shipping, launching an online art shop, and freelancing.
Drop shipping is a business practice where one sells products manufactured, warehoused, and supplied by third parties.
Given Canada’s vast territory and harsh climate, drop shipping is a lifeline for many isolated communities.
You can, of course, choose another niche as per your expertise and investment preferences.
2. Pick up a province
You do not have to be a Canadian citizen or resident to launch an online business in the country. However, it would really help if you opened an office in one of its provinces.
If you decide to run your business from abroad, you’ll have to hire a legal firm to act as your representative before the local authorities, which can be costly.
The Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia are the provinces with the most favorable business climate.
3. Canadian e-commerce laws
On a federal level, your online business must comply with Canada’s anti-spam and cyber safety legislation and the regulations of the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council.
It’s advisable to hire a local legal consultant to keep your online business in good standing with the provincial e-commerce regulators. continue reading
