Ballet school with its own studio

Families enrolling children across age groups, adult beginners and returners, and sometimes parents booking birthday parties or holiday camps.

Term or monthly tuition, registration fees, costume and recital fees, and extras like camps and private lessons. Rent is the biggest fixed cost, so enrolment numbers matter.

• Strong ballet teaching experience, ideally with a recognised syllabus
• Running a small business and managing budgets
• Managing and hiring other teachers and front-desk help

• Zoning, occupancy, fire safety and a municipal business licence, check with your municipality before signing a lease
• Commercial general liability insurance, plus WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire (rules vary by province)
• Vulnerable sector police checks for all staff who work with children
• Music licensing for classes and recitals, check with SOCAN and Re:Sound
• Lease commitments and slow summer months: plan cash to cover quiet periods
• In Quebec, check French-language rules for signage and marketing

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on the lease deposit, the sprung floor, mirrors and barres, the changing area and how much fit-out the space needs.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on class numbers, levels offered, fees and extras like camps. This is revenue, not profit, and quiet summer months can affect cash flow.

Check zoning, occupancy, fire safety and your municipal business licence before signing a lease. Also check commercial general liability insurance, WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire, vulnerable sector checks for staff, music licensing, and French-language rules if you are in Quebec.