Awnings for cafés and shops

Café and restaurant owners, retail shops, and property managers who want shade, shelter or better street presence.

A quoted price per project covering the awning, any printed logo or lettering, and installation. Repeat income comes from repairs, re-covering and cleaning.

• Sales and quoting to business owners
• Measuring and installing at height
• Basic design and project coordination
• Customer service

• Check with your municipality for permits or rules on awnings and signage, especially over sidewalks, in heritage areas or on downtown streets
• Tenants usually need their landlord's written approval before fitting an awning
• Commercial general liability insurance, and WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire (rules vary by province)
• Snow load and wind: check the product is rated for your local weather, and whether it must be retracted or removed in winter
• In Quebec, signs and lettering may have French-language requirements, so check before printing
• Large projects can take weeks to make, so take a deposit and agree timelines in writing

Startup costs are typically around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on your equipment, vehicle and how much you rely on a partner workshop. Monthly revenue is estimated at around $4,000 to $20,000. These are estimates, so check them against your own quotes.

Check with your municipality for permits or rules on awnings and signage, especially over sidewalks, in heritage areas or on downtown streets. Tenants usually need their landlord's written approval. In Quebec, signs and lettering may have French-language requirements, so check before printing.

The estimate is at least around 20 hours a week. Large projects can take weeks to make, so take a deposit and agree timelines in writing. Also check that products are rated for your local snow and wind.