Home staging consultant (use what sellers own)
Advise sellers on how to rearrange, declutter and style their own belongings so their home shows well.
- C$500-3k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
You visit a home before it is listed, walk through each room and give a clear plan: what to remove, move or repaint. You can also do the styling yourself on a second visit using the owner's furniture plus a small kit of cushions, throws, art and plants.
Your first three steps
- Stage a friend's or family member's home and take good before and after photos
- Set consultation and styling prices after checking what local stagers charge
- Introduce yourself to local real estate agents with your photos and a simple one-page price list
Who pays
Home sellers, and real estate agents who book you for their listings.
How it makes money
A flat fee for a consultation and written plan, plus an hourly or per-room fee if you do the styling yourself.
Skills that help
- Eye for layout, colour and light
- Tactful with homeowners
- Organized and good with deadlines
Watch out for
- Commercial general liability insurance, check what cover you need when working in clients' homes
- Home-based business licence rules, check with your municipality
- Register your business name with your province and check when you need to register for GST/HST
- Sellers may be sensitive about their taste, so agree the plan in writing
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: home staging consultant (use what sellers own)
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a home staging consultant business in Canada?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around $500 to $3,000, depending on how large a styling kit you buy (cushions, throws, art and plants) and whether you offer hands-on styling visits as well as advice.
How much can a home staging consultant earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $3,500, depending on how many sellers and real estate agents book you and whether you add paid styling visits. The estimate assumes at least about 6 hours a week.
Do I need insurance or a licence to work as a home stager in Canada?
Things to check: commercial general liability insurance for working in clients' homes, home-based business licence rules with your municipality, business name registration with your province, and when to register for GST/HST. Agree each plan in writing with the seller.
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Photo: ErikaWittlieb on Pixabay