Home studio painter selling originals and commissions

Individual collectors, home decorators, gift buyers, and local cafés, offices or small businesses looking for original art.

Sale price per original painting, plus commission fees agreed upfront (often with a deposit). Prints and cards of your work can add smaller extra sales.

• Solid painting technique and a recognizable style
• Photographing and presenting your work well
• Talking with buyers and managing commission expectations

• Register your business name with your province if you trade under something other than your own name
• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence
• You may need to register for GST/HST once revenue passes the small supplier threshold, so check with the CRA
• Ventilation and safe storage of solvents, oils and other materials at home
• Use written commission agreements covering price, deposit, size, timeline and revisions
• Check whether your home insurance covers business use and stored artwork

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $300 to $2,000, depending on your paints, canvases, framing and how you photograph and present your work. Check whether your home insurance covers business use and stored artwork.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $100 to $2,000, depending on your style, pricing and how many originals and commissions you sell. Earnings can vary a lot from month to month, especially while you build an audience.

Check whether you need to register a business name with your province if you trade under something other than your own name, and whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence. Check GST/HST registration with the CRA, ventilation and solvent storage, and use written commission agreements.