Home glass engraving for gifts and awards

Individuals buying wedding, anniversary and birthday gifts, plus local clubs, schools and small businesses ordering awards or branded glassware.

Price per item based on design complexity, plus a set-up fee for custom artwork. Repeat orders from clubs and businesses help smooth out seasonal peaks.

• Steady hands and an eye for detail
• Basic design or lettering skills
• Customer service and order tracking

• Glass dust is a health hazard, so check proper respiratory protection, ventilation and dust collection
• Check with your municipality whether you need a home-based business licence or if zoning limits workshop use
• Home insurance may not cover business equipment or stock, so ask your insurer about commercial general liability
• Check you have the right to reproduce logos or artwork customers send you
• Register for GST/HST once revenue passes the small supplier threshold

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $800 to $4,000 CAD, depending on whether you use a rotary tool, sandblasting cabinet or small laser set-up, plus safety gear and stock. Your actual costs will vary with the equipment you choose.

Check respiratory protection, ventilation and dust collection, since glass dust is a health hazard. Also check with your municipality about a home-based business licence or zoning limits, ask your insurer about commercial general liability, and confirm you may reproduce customers' logos.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $300 to $2,000 CAD, depending on how many orders you take and what you engrave. The estimate assumes roughly 6 hours a week or more, so results vary with the time you put in.