Fencing club with its own training space

Families, adult beginners, competitive fencers and sometimes schools or youth groups.

Monthly memberships, private lessons, camps, party bookings and tournament or equipment fees. Rent is the biggest cost, so steady member numbers matter.

• Strong fencing background and coaching skills
• Managing coaches and a membership base
• Marketing to local families and schools

• Commercial lease commitments and whether your unit's zoning permits a sports or recreation use
• Commercial general liability and property insurance, plus any cover your fencing association requires
• WCB/WSIB registration and payroll once you hire coaches (rules differ by province), and check whether coaches are employees or contractors
• Coach certification and vulnerable sector checks for staff working with children
• Winter heating costs and seasonal dips in summer, so plan cash flow for quiet months
• In Quebec, check French-language requirements for signage and contracts

Our estimates put startup costs typically around $25,000 to $80,000 CAD, depending on your unit, strips, equipment and fit-out. Monthly revenue is estimated at around $6,000 to $25,000, depending on membership size and the classes you offer.

Check your commercial lease commitments and whether your unit's zoning permits a sports or recreation use. Also check commercial general liability and property insurance, plus any cover your fencing association requires. In Quebec, check French-language requirements.

Check WCB or WSIB registration and payroll once you hire coaches, since rules differ by province, and whether coaches are employees or contractors. Also check coach certification and vulnerable sector checks for staff working with children.