Weekend pop-up teahouse in a rented room

Locals looking for a quiet treat, friends and families booking afternoon tea, and groups celebrating birthdays or showers.

Ticketed or pay-as-you-go seatings, with tea by the pot and snacks. Extra income from private group bookings and selling packaged tea.

• Knowledge of teas and how to brew them
• Event organising and basic hosting
• Baking or sourcing snacks from a licensed kitchen
• Promoting yourself on social media and locally

• Temporary food event permit or food premises permit from your local public health unit, and whether food must come from an inspected kitchen (check locally)
• Food handler certification requirements in your province
• Commercial general liability insurance, and whether the venue requires you to carry it
• Venue rental terms, capacity limits and any municipal event rules
• Allergen labelling and clear information for guests
• Weather and winter travel can affect attendance, so have a cancellation plan

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on the teaware, décor and menu you buy, venue rental terms and your insurance. A pop-up lets you test demand before signing a lease.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how many event days you run, your ticket or menu prices and venue capacity. Weather and winter travel can affect attendance, so have a cancellation plan.

Check for a temporary food event permit or food premises permit from your local public health unit, whether food must come from an inspected kitchen, food handler certification, venue insurance requirements, capacity limits, municipal event rules and allergen labelling.