Family counselling from a rented office room

Families paying privately or through extended health benefits, plus clients referred and funded by local charities or community programs.

A fee per session, with some counsellors renting rooms by the hour or day to keep costs low at first. Room rent comes out of your fees, so you need steady bookings to cover it.

• Recognized counselling or therapy training
• Working with parents and children together
• Handling tense conversations calmly
• Managing a diary and your own bookkeeping

• Counselling titles and registration differ by province, and Quebec has its own rules. Check your provincial regulator first
• Professional liability insurance and commercial general liability if you hold your own lease
• Lease terms and how much rent you owe in slow months, so start with hourly or flexible rooms
• Privacy rules for client files, including secure storage and how long you must keep records
• Whether your fees need GST/HST. Check with the CRA
• A bad winter can cause cancellations, so plan a way to offer video sessions

Startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $10,000, depending on the room, furnishings, insurance and lease terms. This is an estimate, so consider starting with hourly or flexible rooms to limit your commitment.

Monthly revenue is typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how many families you see and your fees. These are estimates, and they assume at least 12 hours of work a week.

Check your provincial regulator first, as counselling titles and registration differ by province and Quebec has its own rules. Also check insurance, your lease terms, privacy rules for client files, and whether your fees need GST/HST with the CRA.