Home-Based clothing alterations

Local professionals, parents, wedding guests, and people who want well-loved clothes to fit properly.

Fixed price per job (for example a hem or zip replacement), with higher prices for tailored jackets, coats and formal wear. Rush jobs can carry an extra fee.

• Confident machine and hand sewing
• Accurate measuring and pinning
• Patience and attention to detail
• Friendly customer service

• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence or has zoning limits on customer visits
• Check your home insurance covers business use and customers' garments, and consider commercial general liability insurance
• Valuable or delicate garments can be damaged, so agree the work in writing and be honest about what you can do
• Register for GST/HST once your revenue passes the small supplier threshold, and check your province's rules

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $500 to $2,500, depending on the sewing equipment you already own, the supplies you buy and how you set up a fitting space at home. Insurance is also worth pricing.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $500 to $3,000, depending on how many hours you work, your prices and how steadily customers book. Revenue is not profit, as supplies and insurance come out of it.

Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence or limits customer visits through zoning. Also check that your home insurance covers business use and customers' garments, consider commercial general liability insurance, and check GST/HST registration once revenue passes the small supplier threshold.