Farm stay with a spare room or bunkhouse

City couples and families on weekend breaks, cyclists and road trippers, and visitors to nearby festivals, weddings and wineries.

Nightly room rate, often with breakfast included. Extras such as farm tours, egg collecting or farm-produce baskets add income per stay.

• Friendly, welcoming host
• Basic cooking for breakfast
• Keeping rooms clean and tidy
• Managing online bookings

• Zoning, short-term rental or B&B licensing and any home-based business licence, which vary by municipality and province
• Farm insurance often excludes paying guests, so check for commercial general liability and property cover
• Breakfast service may need a food permit from your local public health unit, so check before serving
• Safety around machinery, livestock and water, plus smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
• Accommodation taxes and GST/HST may apply, so check with your province and the CRA
• Winter road access and a quiet off-season, so plan your cash flow

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $2,000 to $15,000, depending on whether you use a room in your house or convert an outbuilding, and on furnishings, safety alarms and insurance.

Check zoning, short-term rental or B&B licensing and any home-based business licence, which vary by municipality and province. Also check your farm insurance, as it often excludes paying guests, and whether serving breakfast needs a food permit.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $500 to $3,500, depending on how many beds you offer and how often they are booked. Expect a quiet off-season, so plan your cash flow.