Independent dance company with ticketed shows

Audiences buying tickets, theatres and presenters paying fees, arts councils and foundations giving grants, plus sponsors and donors.

Ticket sales, performance fees from presenters, project grants, sponsorship and fees for workshops or commissions. Income often arrives in bursts around each production.

• Choreography and directing
• Budgeting and production planning
• Grant writing and marketing

• Grant applications are competitive and slow, so don't count on them for your first show
• Theatre rental, insurance and music licensing costs, which can be higher than expected
• Commercial general liability insurance, plus WCB/WSIB rules if you hire paid staff (these differ by province)
• Whether to run as a sole proprietorship, a corporation or a not-for-profit, and what that means for funding eligibility and tax
• Income can be uneven, so many founders keep another job at first

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on studio rental, theatre costs, insurance, music licensing and production needs for your first show.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on ticket sales, presenter fees and any funding. The estimate assumes from about 15 hours a week, and income can be uneven.

Check theatre rental, insurance and music licensing costs, which can be higher than expected. Consider commercial general liability insurance, check WCB or WSIB rules if you hire paid staff, and compare sole proprietorship, corporation and not-for-profit structures for funding and tax.