Virtual personal concierge

Busy executives, business owners, professionals and families who would rather hand off the admin of daily life.

Monthly retainer for a set number of hours or requests, or an hourly rate for one-off projects like planning a trip or a party.

• Strong organization and attention to detail
• Clear writing and phone manner
• Research and comparison skills
• Discretion with personal information

• Check your municipality's rules on home-based business licences
• Protecting clients' personal and payment information; check your province's privacy rules for businesses
• Professional liability insurance in case a booking goes wrong, and ask an insurer what suits you
• Make clear in your agreement who pays for deposits and non-refundable bookings
• Check whether you need to register for GST/HST once your revenue passes the small supplier threshold

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $200 to $1,500, depending on the software and tools you choose, your website and any insurance you take out.

Check your municipality's rules on home-based business licences and your province's privacy rules for protecting clients' personal and payment information. Also ask an insurer about professional liability cover, and check whether you need to register for GST/HST once revenue passes the small supplier threshold.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around $500 to $3,000, depending on how many clients you take on and what you charge. Make clear in your agreement who pays for deposits and non-refundable bookings.