Pop-Up cooking classes in a rented kitchen

Home cooks, couples, friends booking a night out, newcomers wanting to learn local cooking, and small groups or workplaces looking for team events.

Fee per student per class, or a discounted price for a multi-week course. Private group bookings can be charged at a higher flat rate.

• Confident cooking skills in your chosen style
• Clear teaching and demonstrating
• Planning menus and costing ingredients
• Managing a group

• Check with your local public health unit whether a food permit or inspected kitchen is needed for teaching classes where students eat the food
• Commercial general liability insurance, and check whether the kitchen owner requires you to be named on it
• Food safety training such as a food handler certificate, which may be required in your province
• Allergies: collect allergy information before each class and label ingredients clearly
• Check whether you need to register for GST/HST once revenue passes the small supplier threshold

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on the equipment and ingredients you need, insurance, and what the kitchen owner charges. Your costs will depend on how many classes you plan to run.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $3,500, depending on class size, how often you teach and your pricing. That is revenue before kitchen rental and ingredients. A start of about 6 hours a week is estimated.

Check with your local public health unit whether a food permit or inspected kitchen is needed when students eat the food. Also check whether a food handler certificate is required in your province, insurance needs, and GST/HST registration once revenue grows.