Student exchange and homestay placement agency
Match overseas students with local schools and vetted host families, run from a home office.
- C$3k-15k
- Part-time
- From home
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A small agency that places international high school or exchange students with host families and partner schools in your area. You find and vet host families, work with schools, and support students and families during the stay.
Your first three steps
- Contact local school boards, private schools and colleges to learn what homestay and exchange support they already use and need
- Draft a host family screening process (application, interview, home visit, references) and a student welfare plan
- Find a few overseas education agents or exchange partners and ask how they choose placement partners
Who pays
Overseas students and their families pay programme and placement fees, usually through partner agents abroad. Host families may receive a monthly stipend from the fees.
How it makes money
A placement or programme fee per student, with some agencies adding monthly management fees. Income depends on how many students you place each term.
Skills that help
- Organised, with careful record keeping
- Good with families and young people
- Clear communication, ideally in a second language
- Building relationships with schools and overseas partners
Watch out for
- Check which provincial rules, school board requirements or standards apply to homestay and international student programmes where you live
- Check custodianship and guardian requirements for students under 18, which differ by province
- Police record checks (including vulnerable sector checks) for host families and staff
- Commercial general liability insurance, and ask an insurer about errors and omissions cover
- Safeguarding is a serious responsibility, so have clear emergency and complaint procedures
- Check how to handle client fees and deposits, and any consumer protection or business licence rules from your province and municipality
- Quebec has its own rules and French-language requirements
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: student exchange and homestay placement agency
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a student homestay agency in Canada?
Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your office set-up, insurance, marketing and the systems you use to vet host families and track placements. Check how fees and deposits are handled too.
How much can a student exchange and homestay agency earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how many students you place and the programme fees. The estimate assumes at least about 15 hours a week. Part of the fees may go to host families as a stipend.
What rules should I check before placing international students?
Check provincial rules, school board requirements or standards for homestay and international student programmes, and custodianship and guardian requirements for students under 18. Also check police record checks for host families and staff, insurance, and consumer protection or licence rules. Quebec has its own rules.
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