Small residential retreat house

Individuals booking a place on a programme, plus friends' groups and visiting teachers who pay for the stay.

A per-person price covering accommodation, meals and the programme, with extra income from visiting teachers' room fees, add-on workshops and off-season group bookings.

• Hospitality and guest care
• Organising bookings and schedules
• Cooking or managing a cook
• Marketing programmes online

• Zoning, building and fire code rules for overnight guests, check with your municipality and fire department
• Provincial or local short-term or tourist accommodation registration, and Quebec's own rules, check your province
• Food permit from your local public health unit if you serve meals, and a liquor licence if you serve alcohol
• Well water and septic capacity for larger groups
• Commercial general liability and property insurance suited to guest stays
• Strong seasonality, winter bookings can be slow in many regions
• GST/HST on accommodation and WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire, check the rules in your province

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $15,000 to $75,000, depending on the property you use, how many beds you offer and the fit-out needed. Costs also depend on whether you already own or lease the property.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how many beds you fill, your program pricing and the season. Winter bookings can be slow in many regions, so plan your cash flow.

Check zoning, building and fire code rules with your municipality and fire department. Also check provincial or local short-term accommodation registration (Quebec has its own rules), food permits, liquor licences, well and septic capacity, insurance, and GST/HST on accommodation.