Creative business ideas you can run from your own premises

73 ideas

These 73 creative business ideas all rely on a dedicated space of your own, whether you rent it, lease it or buy it. They suit people who need room for equipment, clients or students, and who are comfortable committing to a location.

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

Students collecting rented instruments from a music hire counter.

School band instrument rental programme

Supply and maintain rental instruments for school bands, music programmes and youth orchestras.

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

Visitors viewing colourful Aboriginal dot paintings hanging on gallery walls.

Indigenous art gallery in a small shopfront

Open a small gallery in a tourist or arts area, showing and selling Indigenous artists' work on a rotating basis.

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

Artist blowing through a pipe to shape glowing molten glass in a studio furnace.

Glassblowing from a shared studio

Make and sell blown glass vessels and art pieces by renting bench and furnace time at a community hot shop.

C$1k-5k
Side hustle
Own premises

Own glassblowing studio and gallery

Run your own hot shop making art pieces and commissions for galleries and private clients.

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

Visitors viewing paintings on white walls in a gallery exhibition.

Small commercial art gallery

Rent a small street-front space, run rotating exhibitions and sell artists' work for a commission.

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

Actors rehearsing on a stage with a small theatre crew watching.

Small theatre company with its own space

Run a company with a rented studio theatre, producing a season of plays and workshops.

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

Small branding agency with a studio

Run a small team offering brand strategy, identity and rollout for growing businesses, from a shared or rented studio.

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

Sculptor shaping a bronze or clay figure in a studio.

Public and corporate art sculptor

Win larger commissions for parks, offices and developments from a rented workshop.

C$30k-120k
Full-time
Own premises

Students shaping clay on pottery wheels during a hands-on group class.

Pottery studio with classes and open studio

Rent a small unit with wheels and a kiln, and run weekly classes, kids' sessions and private parties.

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

Maker assembling a detailed scale model of a building on a workbench.

Model-making workshop with laser cutter

Rent a small unit with a laser cutter and 3D printers to produce detailed models for firms and developers.

C$12k-50k
Full-time
Own premises

Small design agency with monthly retainers

Build websites and brand materials for businesses, with a small team and steady monthly client work.

C$3k-15k
Full-time
Own premises

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

Knitting classes at local venues

Run beginner and improver knitting classes in yarn shops, libraries and community halls.

C$200-1k
Side hustle
Own premises

Designer pinning a made-to-measure gown on a client in an atelier.

Bespoke atelier with a fitting room

Open a small atelier where clients book fittings and commission bespoke clothing, with help from a seamstress.

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

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

Music producer with a rented studio space

Rent a small room or unit, fit it out for recording and run sessions for bands and artists full time.

C$6k-30k
Part-time
Own premises

A taxidermist working on a mounted animal specimen in a workshop.

Full-time taxidermy shop

Run a small shop and workshop taking in mounts from hunters, outfitters, collectors and museums.

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

Silversmith shaping a silver ring with hand tools at a bench.

Silver repair and commission workshop

Run a small workshop repairing and making silver pieces for walk-in customers, jewellers and local shops.

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

Group of dancers performing together on a lit theatre stage during a show.

Independent dance company with ticketed shows

Create original dance shows, sell tickets and apply for arts funding to keep a company going.

C$3k-15k
Part-time
Own premises

Frosted etched design appearing on a clear glass panel being prepared in a workshop.

Sandblast glass etching studio

Run a small workshop etching signage, privacy glass and decor for businesses and homeowners.

C$6k-25k
Part-time
Own premises

An artist working on a painting on an easel in a bright studio.

Full-time painter selling through galleries and shows

Build a body of work and sell to collectors through galleries, art fairs and a rented studio space.

C$2k-10k
Full-time
Own premises

A tailor taking measurements of a client for a made-to-measure suit.

Tailor shop with a fitting room

Open a small storefront for bespoke orders, alterations and walk-in repairs.

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

A tailor measuring and altering a garment at a workbench with fabric and pins.

Tailoring and bespoke studio

Run a small shop or studio offering alterations plus made-to-measure suits, dresses and formal wear.

C$8k-35k
Full-time
Own premises

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

Rented studio with live room and booths

Rent a small unit and fit it out to record bands, voiceovers and podcasts by the hour.

C$70k-250k
Full-time
Own premises

Students sketching still life subjects during an art lesson.

Drawing classes in community venues

Run weekly drawing classes for kids and adults in rented library, church hall or community centre rooms.

C$400-2k
Part-time
Own premises

An artist tattooing a client in a bright, well-equipped tattoo studio.

Tattoo artist renting a chair in a studio

Tattoo clients by appointment from a rented chair in an established studio, with no need to fit out your own shop.

C$2k-7k
Part-time
Own premises

About these ideas

Options include band rehearsal rooms by the hour, a bookbinding and restoration workshop, and flamenco classes in a rented studio. Before anything else, work out what the space must do: soundproofing, ventilation, natural light, storefront visibility or room for a small group. Then compare lease terms, deposits and fit-out costs against the income one realistic week of bookings could bring in. Check local zoning, insurance and any licences before you sign. Start with the idea where the space itself is part of what customers pay for.

More ideas

Questions

Should I rent a space before I have customers?

It is often safer to test demand first, for example with pop-up sessions, pre-bookings or a waitlist. If you do sign a lease, check its length, break clauses, renewal terms and whether a personal guarantee is required.

What should I check about zoning and permits for a creative studio?

Check with your municipality that the property's zoning allows your use, especially for classes, noise, public visitors or workshop equipment. Also ask about signage rules, occupancy limits and whether a business licence is needed in your area.

What insurance might a studio or workshop need?

Look into commercial general liability, contents or equipment cover, and property cover if relevant. If you teach or host visitors, ask your insurer about public liability. Requirements vary, so confirm with a broker and your landlord.