Business services ideas you run from your own premises

83 ideas

These 85 business services ideas all need a dedicated space, whether that is a leased office, a unit or a small warehouse. They suit people who want a visible, professional base for clients, stock or equipment, rather than working from a spare room.

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1k to 5k 5k to 20k Over 20k From home Out and about Online

Notary stamping and signing a legal document on a desk at an office.

Notary office with walk-in and booked clients

Run a small notary office offering signings, certified copies and other documents, where your province allows it.

C$4k-15k
Part-time
Own premises

Shipping containers loaded at a port for export to overseas buyers.

Full-time exporter shipping pallets and containers

Gather goods from several Canadian producers and ship them in bulk to regular overseas buyers.

C$25k-100k
Full-time
Own premises

A digger and generator parked on a construction site for hire.

Compact equipment hire with delivery

Rent mini excavators, skid steers and compact machines to contractors and homeowners, delivered to site.

C$60k-180k
Part-time
Own premises

Stack of plain white envelopes arranged on a warehouse shelf.

Envelope supplier with local stock and delivery

Hold popular envelope sizes in a small unit and give local printers and offices fast, reliable delivery.

C$8k-40k
Full-time
Own premises

Recruiter meeting a senior executive candidate in a modern office.

Boutique headhunting firm with a small team

Run a small search firm with a researcher or two, taking on several leadership searches at once for regional employers.

C$10k-50k
Full-time
Own premises

Rolls of tape, cardboard boxes and bubble wrap stacked in a packaging supply store.

Local packaging supply shop and trade counter

Open a small unit where local businesses pick up boxes, tape and wrap, with delivery to regular customers.

C$20k-90k
Full-time
Own premises

Agent wearing headset making calls at a desk in an office.

Small outbound call team for sales and surveys

Run a small team of callers handling sales, lead and survey campaigns for several client companies.

C$8k-30k
Full-time
Own premises

Scientific instruments and glassware arranged on a laboratory bench with a researcher.

Local lab supplies stockist with small warehouse

Hold stock in a small unit and supply nearby labs, schools and companies with fast delivery and local service.

C$20k-80k
Full-time
Own premises

Large technical blueprints being printed and laid out on a table.

Blueprint and plan printing shop

Print and copy large-format drawings and plans for builders, architects and engineers in your area.

C$8k-40k
Full-time
Own premises

Rows of small private mailboxes with numbered doors in a mail centre lobby.

Neighbourhood mailbox rental shop

Rent private mailboxes and receive parcels for locals, students and small firms from a small storefront.

C$15k-60k
Part-time
Own premises

People working at shared desks in a bright modern coworking space.

Neighbourhood coworking space

Lease a small unit and rent desks, offices and meeting rooms to local freelancers and remote workers.

C$25k-90k
Full-time
Own premises

Shared office desk rental

Take a small office suite or spare room and sublet desks by the month to freelancers, with low fit-out costs.

C$3k-15k
Side hustle
Own premises

Recruitment consultant meeting a job candidate across a desk in an office.

Small temp staffing agency

Supply local businesses with short-term workers, and earn a margin on each hour they work.

C$5k-25k
Full-time
Own premises

Staff at desks processing data on computers in a shared administrative office.

Back-office outsourcing team for local firms

Run a small team that handles bookkeeping support, data processing and customer service queues for several client companies.

C$20k-70k
Full-time
Own premises

A recruiter meeting a candidate across a desk during a job interview in an office.

Outsourcing recruitment agency with a small team

Run a small agency with a few recruiters that supplies staff in volume to outsourcing and contact-centre employers.

C$10k-40k
Full-time
Own premises

Rows of commercial washing machines and dryers in a laundrette.

Coin laundry equipment dealer with a small yard or unit

Stock, refurbish and sell coin-operated washers and dryers to new laundromats and landlords, with install and service.

C$30k-150k
Full-time
Own premises

An insurance adviser reviews home policy documents with a couple at a desk.

Local home insurance brokerage office

Open your own small brokerage with a street-front or shared office, placing home cover with several insurers.

C$30k-90k
Full-time
Own premises

Heaps of sorted scrap metal stacked in an outdoor recycling yard.

Small scrap metal buying yard

Run a small yard that buys metal from the public and trades, then sells in bulk to larger processors.

C$25k-120k
Full-time
Own premises

Rows of roll-up doors in a secure self-storage facility corridor.

RV, boat and trailer storage lot

Turn spare rural or edge-of-town land into a fenced lot for seasonal vehicle storage.

C$30k-120k
Side hustle
Own premises

Small storage units in a leased warehouse

Lease an industrial unit, divide it into lockable spaces and rent them to households and small businesses.

C$15k-70k
Part-time
Own premises

A worker printing large colourful promotional banners in a print shop.

Local banner and sign print shop

Run a small unit with a wide-format printer, making banners and signs for local businesses and events.

C$15k-60k
Full-time
Own premises

Staff packing and labelling parcels at a busy mailing counter.

Neighbourhood packing and shipping counter

Pack, label and send parcels for locals and small businesses from a small shopfront.

C$10k-40k
Full-time
Own premises

Passport and visa forms on a desk during an immigration advice meeting.

Immigration practice for local employers and communities

Open a small office helping local employers and walk-in clients with work permits, hiring foreign workers and residence applications.

C$15k-40k
Full-time
Own premises

Financial adviser discussing pension and savings plans with a client at a desk.

Licensed financial adviser with a small office

Advise local clients on investments, savings and insurance as a registered adviser, with a small office for face-to-face meetings.

C$5k-20k
Full-time
Own premises

About these ideas

Examples include a small mail house with print and inserting kit, small storage units in a leased warehouse and a small CPA practice for local businesses. Before anything else, work out what the space must do: client meetings, storing goods, or housing machinery. Then compare lease terms, zoning, insurance and fit-out costs against the revenue you could realistically earn. Some ideas, such as financial or insurance services, may also involve licensing or registration, so check what applies in your province early.

More ideas

Questions

How do I choose the right premises for a business services company?

Start with what the space must do: welcome clients, hold stock, or house equipment. Then check location, access, lease length, who pays for repairs and whether the unit is zoned for your use. Visit at different times of day before committing.

Do I need licences to run a business services firm from commercial premises?

It depends on the service and province. Accounting, insurance, investment advice and currency exchange may be regulated, so check with your provincial regulator and federal bodies. Your municipality may also require a business licence or zoning approval for the premises.

How can I limit the risk of signing a commercial lease?

Read the lease carefully and ask a lawyer to review it. Check the term, renewal options, rent increases, exit clauses and whether a personal guarantee is required. Consider a shorter term or a flexible space while your business is new.