Art restoration studio for galleries and dealers

Commercial galleries, auction houses, art dealers, corporate collections, insurance claims handlers and serious private collectors.

A quoted price per item, with trade clients bringing steady repeat work. Larger or more complex pieces and insurance jobs bring higher fees.

• Advanced restoration training or long experience
• Documentation and condition reporting
• Relationship building with the art trade
• Quoting and managing project timelines

• Insurance covering clients' works in your care, custody and control, which dealers and insurers often expect
• Commercial lease terms, and zoning rules about solvents and studio use, so check with your municipality
• Fire safety and chemical handling rules for your province, including WHMIS requirements for workplace chemicals
• Institutions and insurers may expect recognized qualifications or references, so check what they require
• Work can be uneven month to month, so keep a cash buffer for quiet periods
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold and check your provincial rules

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $8,000 to $30,000, depending on the rented studio, lighting, ventilation and secure storage. Lease terms and insurance for clients' works are worth checking before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on repeat trade work and private clients. Work can be uneven month to month, so keep a cash buffer for quiet periods.

Check insurance covering clients' works in your care, lease terms, zoning rules on solvents and studio use, and provincial fire safety and WHMIS requirements. Galleries and insurers may also expect recognized qualifications or references, so check what they require.