Small Hands-On Cooking School

Aspiring cooks, career changers, home cooks wanting serious skills, and companies booking team classes.

Course and workshop fees per student, private group bookings and corporate team events. Some schools also sell knives, aprons or recipe packs.

• Professional kitchen experience
• Teaching and coaching groups
• Food safety knowledge
• Budgeting and scheduling

• Check with your provincial regulator whether your courses count as vocational training that needs private career college registration, as rules differ by province
• Food premises permit and inspections from your local public health unit
• Commercial general liability insurance, and WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire instructors or assistants
• Fire safety, ventilation and zoning rules for the space, so check with your municipality before signing a lease
• Student refund policies and clear allergy handling
• Fixed rent and equipment costs, so aim to fill classes before expanding

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $25,000 to $120,000 CAD, depending on the space and equipment. Fixed rent and equipment costs are a key risk, so aim to fill classes before you expand.

Check with your provincial regulator whether your courses count as vocational training needing private career college registration, as rules differ by province. Also check food premises permits, inspections, and fire safety, ventilation and zoning rules with your municipality.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $4,000 to $20,000 CAD, depending on how many classes you run and how full they are. Expect to work roughly 25 hours a week or more.