Home studio custom picture framing

Local artists, photographers, families with prints or keepsakes, interior designers and small businesses such as cafes and offices.

A price per frame based on size, moulding, mat and glazing, with extra for mounting, conservation materials and delivery or hanging. Repeat work from artists and designers helps fill quiet periods.

• Precise measuring and cutting
• Good eye for colour and proportion
• Patience with detailed handwork
• Customer service and quoting

• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and whether zoning allows a workshop at home
• Check your home insurance, as it may not cover business equipment or customers' artwork; ask about commercial general liability cover
• Dust, noise and cutting blades: plan safe, ventilated work areas
• Registering for GST/HST once revenue passes the small supplier threshold; check with the Canada Revenue Agency
• Responsibility for valuable or sentimental pieces, so agree terms and handling in writing

Our estimates put startup costs typically around $3,000 to $10,000 CAD, depending on your cutting equipment, mouldings and workshop set-up. Monthly revenue is estimated at around $500 to $3,500, depending on how many orders you take.

Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and whether zoning allows a workshop at home. Also check with the Canada Revenue Agency about registering for GST/HST once revenue passes the small supplier threshold.

Your home insurance may not cover business equipment or customers' artwork, so check it and ask about commercial general liability cover. For valuable or sentimental pieces, agree terms and handling in writing, and plan safe, ventilated work areas.