Projector and sound supplier for small venues

Community halls, schools, churches, clubs, festivals, pop-up and outdoor cinema organizers, and small independent venues.

You add a margin to the equipment you resell and charge a project fee for design and coordination. Customers usually pay a deposit up front and the balance on delivery or completion.

• Understanding AV equipment and room needs
• Quoting and negotiating with suppliers
• Project coordination
• Clear communication with non-technical clients

• Commercial general liability insurance, and ask an insurer about professional liability cover for design advice
• Electrical work may need a licensed electrician in your province, so check who is allowed to do what
• Check your municipality about home-based business licences and storing stock at home
• Cash flow: use deposits so you are not paying for equipment out of pocket
• Showing films commercially needs separate rights from distributors, so tell clients this is not part of your service
• Register for GST/HST when required and check provincial sales tax rules
• Quebec projects may need French-language documentation, so check requirements

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on your setup and insurance. Using client deposits helps, so you are not paying for equipment out of pocket.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on the number and size of venue projects you win. The estimates assume at least about 10 hours a week, worked from home.

Check commercial general liability insurance, and ask an insurer about professional liability cover for design advice. Also check who may do electrical work in your province, home-based business licence rules, GST/HST, and that showing films commercially needs separate rights from distributors.