Home-Based serviced office finder

The office operators or landlords pay you a commission or referral fee. The client usually pays nothing, which makes your service easy to offer.

A commission or referral fee when a client signs, often tied to the length or value of the agreement. Income is lumpy, because deals can take weeks to close.

• Sales and follow-up
• Clear communication
• Organized with leads and deadlines
• Local knowledge of business districts

• Check with your provincial real estate regulator whether arranging office leases or taking commissions requires a licence in your province
• Read each operator's partner agreement for when commission is paid and whether it can be clawed back
• Income can be irregular, so keep other income or savings while you build up deals
• Register your business and check whether you must charge GST/HST on your commission
• Check whether you need a home-based business licence from your municipality

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $500 to $3,000, depending on your website, business registration and any tools you use to track leads. Treat this as an estimate, since you mostly work from home.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on how many clients you place and the commission terms. Income can be irregular, so keep savings or other income while you build up deals.

Check with your provincial real estate regulator whether arranging office leases or taking commissions requires a licence. Also read each operator's partner agreement on commission and clawbacks, check GST/HST on commissions, and ask your municipality about home-based business licences.