Appointment-Only formal wear studio

Brides and wedding parties, prom and grad shoppers, and people who want a personal fitting rather than a busy shop.

Margin on outfits you sell or order in, rental fees if you hold hire stock, and fees or referrals for alterations.

• Styling and sales
• Social media and photos of your range
• Booking and organising fittings
• Building trust with customers

• Running from home may need a home-based business licence, and zoning may limit customer visits, so check with your municipality
• Commercial general liability insurance that covers customers visiting you, and cover for your stock
• Business registration and GST/HST. Check provincial sales tax rules too
• Stock sitting unsold if you buy too much, so start small and order to fit demand
• Returns, deposits and order deadlines, which should be set out clearly in writing
• Seasonal peaks around prom, graduation and wedding season
• Quebec has French-language rules for customer-facing materials, so check them if you are there

Estimates for an appointment-only studio typically run around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on how much stock you buy and the space you use. Starting small and ordering to fit demand helps avoid unsold stock.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on your range, bookings and the season. Prom, graduation and wedding season bring peaks, so plan for quieter months.

Check whether a home-based business licence is needed and whether zoning limits customer visits. Also check liability insurance covering visiting customers and your stock, business registration, GST/HST and provincial sales tax. In Quebec, check French-language rules.