Personal Matchmaker for Local Singles

Busy singles tired of dating apps, often in their 30s to 60s, including divorced or widowed people and professionals with little spare time.

A set-up or membership fee, often with a package of introductions over several months. Some matchmakers add a success fee or offer premium tiers with more personal support.

• Good listener and people reader
• Discretion and trustworthiness
• Sales and relationship building
• Organizing profiles and follow-ups

• Privacy law: check federal (PIPEDA) and provincial rules on collecting and storing clients' personal details
• Consumer protection rules on contracts, refunds and advertising in your province, as some provinces regulate dating service contracts
• Safety and screening: decide how you verify identities and handle complaints, and ask an insurer about professional liability cover
• Slow to build: you need enough members of both sides before matches work, so cash flow can be uneven
• Check whether a home-based business licence is needed from your municipality

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $500 to $3,000, depending on how much you spend on marketing, tools and set-up. Treat it as a rough range and plan your own budget before you begin.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around $500 to $4,000, depending on how many clients you sign and what you charge. The idea needs about 8 hours a week at minimum, and cash flow can be uneven while you build your network.

Check federal (PIPEDA) and provincial privacy rules on collecting and storing personal details. Also check consumer protection rules on contracts, refunds and advertising, since some provinces regulate dating service contracts, plus professional liability cover and any home-based business licence.