Handmade lamp studio at home

Homeowners, gift buyers and design-minded shoppers who buy through your online shop, craft fairs, and local home or gift stores.

You sell each lamp at a retail price, or at a lower wholesale price to shops. Custom colours and sizes can bring a higher price, though each custom design may need its own approval check.

• Making things by hand (woodwork, ceramics, metalwork or similar)
• Product design and an eye for finish
• Basic photography and online selling
• Careful, safety-minded assembly

• Finished lamps sold in Canada generally need to be certified or field-evaluated by an accredited body (such as CSA, cUL or ETL) to the applicable standard. Listed components alone are usually not enough. Fees can run from hundreds to several thousand dollars per design, so confirm the process, cost and any provincial rules before selling
• Commercial general liability and product liability insurance, since a faulty lamp can cause a fire; check whether your insurer requires certification
• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and allows workshop use at your address
• Dust, paint, solvents and power tools need good ventilation and safe storage at home
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold, and check provincial sales tax rules

Startup costs are typically around $6,000 to $25,000, depending on your tools, materials and workshop setup. These are estimates, and certification fees for finished lamps can add to your costs, so confirm them first.

Finished lamps generally need to be certified or field-evaluated by an accredited body such as CSA, cUL or ETL, and listed components alone are usually not enough. Confirm the process, cost and any provincial rules before selling.

Monthly revenue is typically around $500 to $4,000, depending on your prices, how many lamps you make and where you sell. Plan for at least about 10 hours a week, including online selling and craft markets.