Start a walkers' bunkhouse beside your home

Pilgrims and long-distance walkers, often on a tight budget, and sometimes small groups from parishes or walking clubs.

A set fee per bed per night, sometimes with a donation option, plus extras such as breakfast, packed lunches, laundry or luggage transfers. Income is seasonal, mostly late spring to early autumn.

• Welcoming and easygoing with strangers
• Basic housekeeping and laundry
• Simple online listing and booking management

• Zoning and short-term accommodation rules vary by municipality, check before you take guests
• Some provinces require registration or a licence for tourist accommodation (Quebec, for example, has its own registration system), check your provincial rules
• Fire safety, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and escape routes for sleeping areas, check your local fire code
• Commercial liability insurance is likely needed, since a home policy may not cover paying guests
• If you serve food, check with your local public health unit about permits
• Short season and winter closures, so plan your income across the year
• Sharing your property with strangers, set clear house rules and check-in times

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how much conversion your spare room or outbuilding needs, plus beds, bedding, showers and safety equipment.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $3,500, depending on the number of beds, your prices and how busy the route is. The season is short, with winter closures, so plan your income across the year.

Check municipal zoning and short-term accommodation rules, and whether your province requires registration or a licence for tourist accommodation (Quebec has its own system). Also check fire safety and alarms, commercial liability insurance, and public health permits if you serve food.