Kiln-Formed glass tableware from home

Gift shops, galleries, cafés and small hospitality venues, plus customers at craft fairs and online.

Wholesale to shops at a set discount, and direct retail at markets and online. Small batch runs and custom colours for venues can command higher prices.

• Glass cutting and kiln firing
• Colour and pattern design
• Batch production and quality control
• Basic online selling and photography

• Home-based business rules and zoning; check with your municipality
• Fire risk and electrical load from a kiln; tell your home insurer and check your insurance covers business use
• Glass dust and cuts; use eye protection and a suitable respirator, and keep the workspace clean
• Check Health Canada rules on lead and cadmium in glassware used for food and drink, and whether your glass and any decoration are suitable for food contact
• Commercial general liability and product liability insurance

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on kiln size, glass stock and workshop setup. Check that your home insurer knows about business use, and about fire and electrical load from a kiln.

Check home-based business rules and zoning with your municipality, and tell your home insurer about the kiln. Also check Health Canada rules on lead and cadmium in glassware for food and drink, plus commercial general and product liability insurance.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on how much you produce and where you sell. The estimate assumes at least about 10 hours a week, so it can fit around other work.