Full-time label with vinyl and live shows

Fans buying vinyl, merch and tickets, streaming platforms, licensing buyers, and grant bodies that fund recording and touring for artists.

Sales of physical and digital music and merch, streaming income, sync licensing, and a share of show or tour income if your deals include it. Arts grants can help cover recording and marketing costs.

• Artist relations and A&R
• Budgeting and cash flow management
• Marketing, press and event promotion
• Managing suppliers such as pressing plants and printers

• Pressing and manufacturing costs are paid upfront, so unsold stock can tie up cash
• Contracts with artists, distributors and venues, get legal advice
• Commercial general liability insurance for events and stock, and check your provincial rules if you hire staff
• Check municipal zoning and licensing for your office or storage space
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold, and check any provincial sales tax rules
• Income can be uneven and often low in the early months, so keep savings or another income while the label builds

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $10,000 to $50,000, depending on pressing runs, your office or studio space and launch events. Pressing and manufacturing are paid upfront, so unsold stock can tie up cash.

Get legal advice on contracts with artists, distributors and venues. Check insurance for events and stock, municipal zoning and licensing for your office or storage space, and GST/HST registration once you pass the small supplier threshold, plus any provincial sales tax rules.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $800 to $4,000, depending on your roster, releases and shows. Income can be uneven and often low in the early months, so keep savings or another income while the label builds.