Local business social media marketing

Local shops, restaurants, trades, clinics and other small businesses that have no time or staff for marketing.

Monthly retainer per client, plus one-off fees for setup, photo shoots or ad campaigns. Ad spend is usually paid by the client.

• Writing clear, friendly copy
• Using social media and ad platforms
• Basic design with free or low-cost tools
• Reporting results in plain language

• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence
• Consider professional liability (errors and omissions) insurance, and ask a broker about commercial general liability
• Register for GST/HST once revenue passes the small supplier threshold, and check provincial sales tax rules
• Check Canada's anti-spam law (CASL) if you run any email marketing, and Quebec's French-language rules if you serve clients there
• Results are never guaranteed, so avoid promising sales or follower numbers

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $300 to $2,500, depending on the software, design tools and equipment you already own. Working from a home office keeps overheads low.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $800 to $4,500, depending on how many clients you take on and what you charge. These are revenue estimates before expenses and tax, and results vary.

Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence, and consider professional liability insurance. Also check GST/HST registration once revenue passes the small supplier threshold, CASL if you run email marketing, and Quebec's French-language rules if relevant.