Freelance marketing consultant

Local shops, trades, restaurants, clinics, and other small businesses without an in-house marketing person.

Fixed project fees for strategy or brand work, plus monthly retainers for ongoing advice and campaign oversight.

• Understanding of marketing basics and brand positioning
• Clear writing and presenting
• Listening to clients and asking good questions
• Basic analytics and budgeting

• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence
• Consider professional liability (errors and omissions) insurance as well as commercial general liability
• Check when you need to register for GST/HST with the CRA, and the rules in your province
• Use written contracts that define scope, results you do not guarantee, and who owns the work
• Income can be uneven at first, so plan for gaps between projects

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $300 to $2,500, depending on your equipment, software and insurance choices. Costs can stay fairly low because you work from a home office rather than renting premises.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $800 to $5,000, depending on how many clients you take on and what you charge. Income can be uneven at first, so plan for gaps between projects.

Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence, and when you need to register for GST/HST with the CRA in your province. Also consider professional liability and commercial general liability insurance, and use written contracts.