Custom mirror and glass workshop
Cut, edge and fit mirrors to order for homes, gyms, salons and shops from a small unit.
- C$15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A small workshop or storefront where you cut mirrors to size, polish the edges, and sell ready-made mirrors. You also fit them at customers' homes and businesses, such as bathroom vanities, wardrobe doors and gym walls.
Your first three steps
- Visit local glass shops and suppliers to compare wholesale glass prices and what they charge customers
- Price out a small unit and the key equipment: cutting table, edging tools, suction lifters and racking
- Contact renovators, designers and property managers to offer quotes on their next mirror job
Who pays
Homeowners, renovators, interior designers, condo owners, gyms, dance studios, salons and small businesses.
How it makes money
You charge per mirror based on size, glass thickness and edge finish, plus a fitting or delivery fee. Repeat work from contractors and designers helps fill quiet periods.
Skills that help
- Accurate measuring and cutting
- Safe handling of heavy glass
- Quoting and customer service
Watch out for
- Commercial general liability insurance, and check whether you need product liability cover too
- Zoning and business licence rules for your unit, check with your municipality
- Workplace safety rules and cut-resistant gear, check WCB or WSIB requirements for your province, especially once you hire
- Some installations may need safety glass or specific fittings, check the building code with your municipality
- Breakage losses and damage during delivery, build this into your prices
- In Quebec, check the French-language rules for signage and customer documents
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: custom mirror and glass workshop
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 custom mirror workshop in Canada?
Startup costs are typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on your premises, cutting and edging equipment and stock. Treat this as an estimate and price insurance and safety gear separately.
How much can a custom mirror and glass workshop earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on your mix of retail sales and fitted jobs. Breakage and delivery damage can eat into this, so build them into your prices.
What rules should I check before opening a mirror and glass workshop?
Check commercial general liability and product liability insurance, zoning and business licence rules with your municipality, and WCB or WSIB requirements. Also check whether installations need safety glass under the building code, and Quebec French-language rules.
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