Small boutique cattery business

Cat owners wanting professional care with several guests handled at once, plus owners who don't want strangers visiting their home.

Nightly suite rates, with extras such as grooming, medication, webcam access or larger suites. More suites means higher income but also more daily work and fixed costs.

• Cat handling and spotting signs of illness
• Cleaning and hygiene routines
• Organising bookings and managing staff or helpers

• Zoning, building and animal-boarding licence rules vary by municipality and province, so check before signing a lease
• Commercial insurance covering animals in your care
• Disease control and cleaning standards, including vaccination requirements
• WCB/WSIB coverage and employment rules if you hire help (varies by province)
• Fixed costs like rent and heating continue in quiet months, and holiday peaks can be very busy

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $40,000 to $150,000, depending on whether you rent a unit or build a purpose-built space, and how many suites you fit. These are estimates only, so get your own quotes.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $2,500 to $10,000, depending on how many suites you fill. The low end assumes about 30 hours a week. Holiday peaks can be very busy, while rent and heating continue in quiet months.

Check before signing a lease, as zoning, building and animal-boarding licence rules vary by municipality and province. Also check commercial insurance covering animals in your care, disease control and vaccination requirements, and WCB/WSIB coverage if you hire help.