Home-Based residential interior designer

Homeowners renovating or redecorating, new home buyers, and landlords or condo owners updating a unit.

Design fees, either a fixed price per room or project, or an hourly rate. Some designers also earn a mark-up or commission on products they source, where suppliers allow it.

• Space planning and a good eye for colour and materials
• Design software such as SketchUp or similar
• Clear communication and managing client budgets

• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence
• Rules on using the title 'interior designer' differ by province (some provinces regulate it), so check with your provincial association
• Commercial general liability insurance and, if you give advice that affects the build, professional liability cover
• Use written contracts that set out scope, fees and payment stages, so budgets and revisions don't spiral
• Design work that involves structural changes may need a licensed contractor or engineer and building permits

Estimates put startup costs typically around $1,000 to $5,000 CAD, depending on your design software, equipment, samples and insurance. Where you land in that range also depends on how much you spend on marketing and your home office setup.

Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence. Also check how your province treats the title 'interior designer', since rules differ by province. Look into liability insurance too, and whether any structural changes need permits or a licensed contractor.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around $800 to $4,000 CAD, depending on how many clients you take on and the size of their projects. The time needed is estimated at around 8 hours a week or more.