Art school in a rented studio

Parents of school-age children, adult hobbyists, and groups booking workshops or birthday parties.

Term or monthly tuition, drop-in workshops, camps and party bookings. Hiring part-time instructors lets you run more classes than you can teach yourself.

• Teaching and lesson planning
• Running a timetable and enrolments
• Marketing to local families
• Managing and paying instructors

• Commercial lease commitments, ask for a lease review before signing
• Zoning, fire safety and occupancy rules for the space, check with your municipality
• Commercial general liability insurance, and WCB/WSIB coverage if you hire staff (rules vary by province)
• Police record checks for staff working with children
• Seasonal dips in enrolment, such as summer, and a slow start while you build a student base
• GST/HST registration once revenue passes the small supplier threshold

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on your rented studio, furnishings, art supplies and insurance. It is wise to have a lease reviewed before signing any commercial commitment.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your timetable, enrolments and extras like workshops, parties and camps. Expect a slow start and seasonal dips, such as summer.

Check zoning, fire safety and occupancy rules with your municipality, and have your commercial lease reviewed. Also check liability insurance, WCB/WSIB coverage if you hire staff, police record checks for staff working with children, and GST/HST registration.