Small flock and hobby farm shearer

Hobby farmers, small-scale sheep and wool producers, homesteaders, 4-H families and fibre artists with small flocks.

A set price per sheep, often with a minimum call-out fee for very small flocks. Income is concentrated in a few busy months, so monthly figures vary a lot across the year.

• Comfortable handling sheep calmly
• Physical fitness and good stamina
• Willingness to learn a technical skill properly
• Reliable scheduling with customers

• Commercial general liability insurance, check what covers working on other people's farms
• Shearing is hard on the back, so build up gradually and plan your daily animal numbers
• Biosecurity: clean and disinfect equipment between farms to avoid spreading disease and parasites
• Animal welfare expectations, check the national sheep code of practice and your provincial rules
• Check whether you need to register for GST/HST once revenue passes the small supplier threshold
• Seasonality: in most of Canada, work drops sharply in summer and winter

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $800 to $3,000 CAD, depending on shearing gear, transport and insurance. Learning the skill properly before you take paid bookings is worth planning for.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $400 to $2,000 CAD, depending on flock sizes, how many farms you reach and the season. Work drops sharply in summer and winter in most of Canada.

Check commercial general liability insurance, including what covers working on other people's farms. Also check animal welfare expectations such as the national sheep code of practice and your provincial rules, and whether you need GST/HST registration once revenue passes the small supplier threshold.