After-School club in a rented hall

Parents of school-age children, and sometimes schools, community groups or subsidy programmes that support eligible families.

Monthly or per-day fees per child. Revenue grows with the number of children and staff you can run safely, minus rent and wages.

• Managing and scheduling staff
• Planning activities for different ages
• Clear communication with parents and landlords

• Licensing, staff qualifications (such as early childhood education) and child-to-staff ratios vary by province; Quebec has its own rules and French-language requirements
• Police checks with vulnerable sector screening for all staff and volunteers
• Commercial general liability insurance, plus WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire (rules vary by province)
• Fire safety, health unit and building requirements for the space; a food permit may be needed if you serve more than simple snacks
• Cash flow risk if enrolment is lower than expected while rent and wages stay fixed

Startup costs are estimates, typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on your hall rental, insurance, equipment, staff checks and set-up. Your location and the size of the group you plan to run will affect the total.

Monthly revenue is an estimate, typically around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on your fees, enrolment and how many days you operate. Rent and wages stay fixed, so lower enrolment can strain cash flow.

Check licensing, staff qualifications and child-to-staff ratios, which vary by province, with Quebec having its own rules. Also check police checks with vulnerable sector screening, liability insurance, WCB or WSIB coverage, fire safety and health unit requirements, and food permits.