In-Person counselling from a rented room

Individuals paying themselves or through benefit plans, plus employers, schools and community agencies that refer or contract you.

A fee per session. Your costs are room rent and insurance, so income depends on how many sessions you book each week.

• Active listening and empathy
• Recognized counselling training and supervised experience
• Building referral relationships
• Record keeping and boundaries

• Title and registration rules vary by province, so check before advertising
• Rent is paid whether or not clients attend, so start with a few flexible days rather than a long lease
• Professional liability and commercial general liability insurance, and check what the landlord requires
• Privacy law for client files and how to store them securely, in the room and off site
• Whether your services are exempt for GST/HST, so check with the CRA
• Winter weather can lead to cancellations, so have an online backup option
• Plan for how to respond if a client is in crisis

Startup costs are estimates, typically around $3,000 to $10,000, depending on the room, insurance and how you furnish it. Rent is paid whether or not clients attend, so consider a few flexible days rather than a long lease.

Title and registration rules vary by province, so check before advertising. Also check which professional liability and commercial general liability insurance your landlord requires, how privacy law applies to client files, and whether your services are GST/HST exempt with the CRA.

Monthly revenue is an estimate, typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how many clients you see and how many days you work. Winter weather can cause cancellations, so an online backup option helps.