Small bouldering gym

Local climbers, beginners trying it for the first time, students, families, birthday party hosts and school or youth groups.

Day passes, monthly memberships, shoe and gear hire, intro classes, kids' programs, birthday parties and a small retail corner. Some centres also add a coffee bar.

• Climbing experience and route setting knowledge
• Managing people and customer service
• Budgeting and project management for a build-out

• High startup cost, since lease, fit-out, walls and flooring can add up quickly, so check how you will fund it; a smaller unit and a simpler fit-out keep costs toward the lower end
• Zoning, building code, occupancy and fire safety approvals from your municipality before you sign a lease
• Commercial general liability insurance suited to climbing, and how waivers are treated in your province (Quebec has its own rules)
• Staff training in first aid and gym safety, plus WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire (rules vary by province)
• Injury risk, so check wall, landing surface and equipment safety standards and regular inspection routines
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold, and check any business licence your municipality requires

Estimates are typically around $250,000 to $650,000, depending on the lease, fit-out, walls and flooring. A smaller unit and a simpler fit-out keep costs toward the lower end, so check how you will fund it.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $20,000 to $60,000, depending on your size, location, and the mix of day passes, memberships, gear hire and classes. Treat this as revenue, not profit.

Check zoning, building code, occupancy and fire safety approvals with your municipality before signing a lease. Also check climbing-suitable liability insurance, how waivers are treated in your province (Quebec has its own rules), staff first aid training, WCB/WSIB, and GST/HST.