Small business energy savings advisor

Independent shops, restaurants, small offices, landlords of small commercial buildings and light industrial operators.

A fixed fee per audit and report, or a monthly retainer to track bills and follow up on upgrades. Some advisors also earn referral fees from installers, which should be disclosed.

• Reading utility bills and spotting patterns
• Basic knowledge of lighting, HVAC and refrigeration
• Building trust with business owners

• Professional liability (errors and omissions) and commercial general liability insurance
• Some engineering-type advice may fall under provincial engineering rules, so check your provincial regulator before offering it
• Incentive programs differ by province and utility, so verify before quoting savings
• Avoid guaranteeing savings, and be open about any installer referral fees
• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence if you work from home

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $500 to $4,000, depending on your measuring tools, insurance, reporting software and marketing. It is a low-cost business to start, since much of the work is knowledge and time.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $1,000 to $6,000, depending on how many shops, restaurants and offices you review and your fees. That is revenue before costs, and estimates suggest at least about 8 hours a week.

Things to check: some engineering-type advice may fall under provincial engineering rules, so check your provincial regulator. Incentive programs differ by province and utility. Avoid guaranteeing savings, disclose any referral fees, and check insurance and home-based licence rules.