Community Art Studio with Classes and Hire

Students of all ages, adults wanting a creative night out, local artists needing workspace, and groups booking private parties.

Class and term fees, monthly memberships, hourly or daily studio hire, and private party or corporate workshop bookings.

• Teaching or running creative workshops
• Marketing to a local community
• Managing a budget and a lease

• Lease terms and commercial rent, since a long lease is a real commitment
• Zoning, occupancy and fire code requirements for your unit, so check with your municipality
• Commercial general liability and contents insurance
• Quiet winter or summer periods, so plan cash flow around seasonal swings
• Collecting GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold, and WCB/WSIB coverage if you hire instructors as staff

Estimated startup costs are typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on the unit you rent, the fit-out and equipment, and how much you spend on furniture and storage.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $2,500 to $12,000, depending on class numbers, memberships and studio hire bookings. Rent and other costs come out of that, and quiet seasons may affect cash flow.

Check lease terms, since a long lease is a real commitment, and zoning, occupancy and fire code requirements with your municipality. Also check insurance, GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold, and WCB/WSIB coverage if instructors are staff.