Business Ideas That Run From Your Own Premises in Canada

1553 ideas

These 1553 ideas all need a dedicated space of your own, whether you lease a storefront, rent a studio or suite, or set up a room built for the job. They suit people who want a visible base where customers can walk in, or who need room for equipment, stock or classes.

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Tents, sleeping bags and hiking gear displayed in an outdoor camping shop.

Camping gear shop

Open a small shop selling tents, sleeping bags and camping gear to local campers and hikers.

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

Club volleyball team training together on an indoor court.

Drop-in volleyball club in a rented gym

Rent a school or community gym by the hour and run weekly drop-in volleyball nights for adults.

C$500-3k
Side hustle
Own premises

Volleyball league and training club

Run seasonal team leagues plus coached training sessions for youth or adult players.

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

Motorhomes parked on a campsite with electric hook-up posts.

Small motorhome stop on your own land

Turn spare land into a handful of overnight sites with power and water for motorhomes and RVs.

C$5k-25k
Side hustle
Own premises

Seasonal motorhome park with 20 to 40 sites

Run a small park with full hook-ups, a dump station and a check-in office, open through the warm months.

C$600k-2500k
Full-time
Own premises

Elegant plated desserts served in a restaurant dining room.

Neighbourhood dessert shop and cafe

Open a small sit-down dessert spot serving plated sweets, ice cream, waffles and hot or cold drinks.

C$50k-200k
Full-time
Own premises

DJ controller, headphones and speakers displayed on a shop counter.

Local DJ gear shop

Open a small shop where DJs can try controllers, test headphones and get advice in person.

C$40k-150k
Full-time
Own premises

Large rolls of fabric stacked in a wholesale warehouse.

Small-warehouse fabric wholesaler

Buy bolts from mills and importers, and sell them by the bolt to makers, upholsterers and shops from a small unit.

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

Workers producing cheese and yoghurt in a clean dairy processing facility.

Small-batch cheese and yogurt creamery

Turn milk bought from a local farm into cheese, yogurt or butter and sell it at markets, shops and restaurants.

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

Goat or sheep dairy with on-farm creamery

Keep a small milking herd and make cheese or yogurt on your own land, sold direct to local customers.

C$60k-300k
Full-time
Own premises

Holidaymakers collecting paddleboards and kayaks from a beach rental stand.

Waterfront watersports rental shop

Run a small seasonal rental base on a beach or marina with kayaks, boards, wetsuits and lessons.

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

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

Designer creating a large floral arrangement for a wedding table setting.

Floral design studio with a small unit

Rent a small studio or unit to design event flowers, meet clients and take walk-in and online orders.

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

A construction crew working on the exterior of a house under renovation.

Small building firm with a crew

Run a small crew taking on extensions, residential builds and light commercial fit-outs under contract.

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

Technician repairing an air compressor unit in a workshop.

Air compressor repair workshop

Run a small unit where customers bring or send compressors for repair, rebuilds and servicing.

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

Engraver adding lettering to a trophy in a small workshop.

Trophy and awards shop

Run a small shop making and engraving trophies, plaques and awards for local groups and walk-in customers.

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

A carer sitting in a home and relaxing with a cat on her lap.

Small boutique cattery

Run a small dedicated cat hotel with private suites, either in a rented unit or a purpose-built space.

C$40k-150k
Full-time
Own premises

Folded towels and bed sheets displayed on shelves in a linen shop.

Linen shop on your local high street

Open a small shop selling bed linen, towels and table textiles to shoppers in your neighbourhood.

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

Copper stills and barrels inside a working distillery.

Small-batch craft distillery with a tasting room

Make gin, vodka or whisky in a rented unit and sell to bars, stores and visitors.

C$150k-750k
Full-time
Own premises

Farm distillery using your own grain or fruit

Turn grain, fruit or honey from your land into spirits and sell them at the farm gate and nearby.

C$200k-900k
Full-time
Own premises

Customers seated at tables with teapots, cups and light food in a tea room.

Neighbourhood tea room

Open a cosy sit-in tea room serving loose-leaf tea, baked treats and light lunches.

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

Colourful acai bowl topped with fruit and granola on a café counter.

Açaí bowl and smoothie shop

Run a small counter-service shop selling açaí bowls, smoothies and juices for takeaway or quick eating in.

C$40k-150k
Full-time
Own premises

Trailer hitches, couplings and accessories displayed on shop shelves.

Local trailer parts and hitch shop

Open a small shop selling hitches, lights, axles and accessories to trailer owners and local workshops.

C$40k-150k
Full-time
Own premises

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

About these ideas

You might look at rent a chair or suite in a salon, independent neighbourhood wine shop or small licensed preschool in a rented space. Before anything else, work out what the space will cost each month, including rent, utilities, insurance and any fit-out, and how many sales or bookings you need to cover it. Check the lease terms, zoning for your type of business, and whether your idea needs a licence or inspection in your municipality or province.

More ideas

Questions

How much should I budget for premises before I open?

Look at monthly rent, utilities, insurance, deposits, signage and any fit-out. Ask landlords about extra charges such as common area costs and property taxes, and read the lease length and renewal terms closely before committing.

Do I need a licence to operate from commercial premises in Canada?

It depends on your business, city and province. Check with your municipality about business licences, zoning and occupancy rules, and with your province about sector permits, such as childcare, food or alcohol, which may involve inspections.

Is renting a chair, suite or shared studio a lower-risk way to start?

It can reduce upfront costs and commitment compared with leasing a whole storefront. Check what the fee includes, whether you need your own insurance, the notice period, and whether you are treated as self-employed or an employee.