Creative business ideas you can run online in Canada

42 ideas

These 42 ideas are for people with a creative skill, a good eye or specialist knowledge who want to work from a laptop instead of a studio or shopfront. Some sell your own work, such as a paid newsletter with digital guides or an online sheet music self-publisher.

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Under 1k 1k to 5k 5k to 20k Over 20k From home Out and about Own premises

Sheet music scores and licensing paperwork spread across a desk.

Sync licensing catalogue for film, TV and ads

Build a catalogue of cleared songs and license them to producers, ad agencies and content creators online.

C$800-4k
Side hustle
Online

Visitors viewing colourful Aboriginal dot paintings hanging on gallery walls.

Online Indigenous art gallery with pop-ups

Sell Indigenous artists' work online and at pop-up shows, working with artists on fair consignment terms.

C$1.5k-7.5k
Side hustle
Online

Visitors viewing paintings on white walls in a gallery exhibition.

Pop-up and online art gallery

Show and sell local artists' work through short pop-up shows and an online shop, earning commission on each sale.

C$800-4k
Side hustle
Online

A designer sketching floor plans and drawings for a home extension.

Remote drafting and 3D plans for builders

Turn builders' and renovators' sketches into clear plans and 3D views, working remotely on your own schedule.

C$1k-5k
Side hustle
Online

Interior designer reviewing room layout plans with fabric and paint samples.

Online interior design consultations

Help homeowners plan rooms remotely with layouts, colour schemes and shopping lists, all by video and email.

C$300-2k
Side hustle
Online

Shelves of archived film reels and photograph boxes in an organised library.

Niche image and footage library

Run your own focused collection of Canadian photos and footage and license it directly to publishers and brands.

C$1.5k-6k
Part-time
Online

An instructor teaching a small group of students to knit with wool and needles.

Online knitting lessons and workshops

Teach knitting by video call to students anywhere, with a simple kit or pattern sent to them.

C$100-800
Side hustle
Online

Music producer working at a mixing desk in a recording studio.

Online beat maker and remote producer

Produce, mix and master tracks for artists anywhere, working from your laptop and delivering files online.

C$800-4k
Side hustle
Online

Rolls of newsprint running through a printing press producing daily newspapers.

Online local news site and newsletter

Run a digital local paper with a website and email newsletter, funded by local ads and reader subscriptions.

C$500-2.5k
Side hustle
Online

Students learning to stitch fabric together in a sewing class.

Online stitching classes

Teach stitching by live video or recorded lessons to students anywhere in Canada.

C$200-1.5k
Side hustle
Online

Instructor teaching students intricate henna designs on hands in a bright studio.

Online henna design classes

Teach henna design live over video or through recorded lessons to students anywhere in Canada and beyond.

C$300-2k
Side hustle
Online

Editors reviewing printed book pages around a publishing office table.

Digital-first ebook and audiobook publisher

Publish ebooks and print-on-demand titles for a niche audience with very low stock risk.

C$1k-6k
Side hustle
Online

Astrologer reviewing a birth chart and zodiac wheel with a client.

Online astrology readings

Offer birth chart readings and consultations by video call or written report to clients anywhere.

C$100-800
Side hustle
Online

Engineer mixing music on a console in a professional recording studio.

Online mixing and mastering service

Mix and master songs sent over the internet by artists and producers, no studio visits needed.

C$1.5k-7k
Side hustle
Online

Students sketching still life subjects during an art lesson.

Online drawing lessons

Teach drawing live over video to students anywhere, with no room to rent and no commute.

C$150-1k
Side hustle
Online

Reporter typing a news story at a desk in a busy newsroom.

Niche news wire for trade and specialist publishers

Cover one industry or topic in depth and license your reports to trade magazines, newsletters and websites.

C$1k-5k
Part-time
Online

Person reading an ebook on a tablet with digital audio and video icons.

Illustrated and audio book publisher

Turn books into illustrated ebooks, read-along titles and audiobooks, and sell them online to readers and schools.

C$1.5k-7.5k
Part-time
Online

Artist painting on a canvas in a light, airy studio.

Online art shop with originals and prints

Sell your artwork, prints and licensed designs to buyers across Canada through your own online shop.

C$300-2.5k
Side hustle
Online

Printed sheet music and songbooks stacked on a desk in a publishing office.

Online sheet music self-publisher

Publish your own pieces and arrangements for teachers and students, sold as downloads or printed on demand.

C$300-1.5k
Side hustle
Online

Student practising decorative calligraphy with a pen and ink during a workshop lesson.

Online calligraphy lessons

Teach calligraphy by video call to students anywhere, one to one or in small live classes.

C$150-800
Side hustle
Online

Decorator holding colour swatches beside a furnished living room.

Online decorating packages

Offer fixed-price room design packages by video call, with mood boards and shopping lists for clients anywhere.

C$200-1.5k
Side hustle
Online

Designers reviewing room layouts and material samples at a studio table.

Online room design service

Offer remote room designs with layouts, mood boards and shopping lists for fixed fees.

C$500-3k
Side hustle
Online

Online personalized embroidery shop

Sell monogrammed gifts, baby items and hand-stitched pieces through an online shop and ship across Canada.

C$300-3k
Side hustle
Online

Dealer showing a painting to a collector in a gallery.

Online art dealer for private collectors

Source artworks from local artists and sellers, then sell to collectors online and by private appointment.

C$1k-8k
Side hustle
Online

About these ideas

Others build on curation and teaching, like an online art dealer for private collectors or online drawing lessons. Before you choose, think about who will pay, how they will find you, and how much time you can give each week. Check any rights or licensing issues for the work you sell, and look at what a simple website, payment tools and marketing would cost in Canadian dollars. Start small and test demand before you invest heavily.

More ideas

Questions

Do I need to register a business to sell creative work online in Canada?

Often you can start as a sole proprietor, but it's worth checking provincial or territorial registration rules, any business name requirements, and whether you need a GST/HST number. A local small business office or accountant can confirm what applies to you.

How do I protect my creative work when selling it online?

Check how copyright applies to your work and to anything you use from others, such as images, fonts or music. Consider clear licence terms on your site, and look into whether registering your copyright or getting legal advice makes sense for your product.

How do I get paid and handle tax on online creative sales?

Check which payment platforms work in Canada and what fees they charge. Also look into whether you need to collect GST/HST or provincial sales tax, especially for digital products or international customers, and keep clear records for your income tax return.