Neighbourhood Study and Tutoring Centre

Parents of school-age children, high school and college students, and adults preparing for exams or language tests.

Hourly drop-in fees, monthly memberships for study space, and course or group tuition fees paid per term or per block of sessions.

• Teaching or tutoring ability
• Organizing timetables and bookings
• Building trust with parents
• Basic local marketing

• Check municipal zoning and business licence rules for education use of the premises
• Commercial general liability insurance and a lease you can afford in slow months
• Police record checks (including vulnerable sector checks) for staff working with children; check what your province expects
• Whether tutors are employees or contractors, and WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire (rules vary by province)
• Some provinces regulate private career colleges or private schools; check whether your offering counts
• Demand drops in summer, so plan for seasonal income

Estimates typically put startup costs at around $8,000 to $30,000, depending on your rent, furniture, Wi-Fi, insurance and tutor set-up. Choose a lease you can afford in slow months, since demand can drop in summer.

Monthly revenue is typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how many students you enrol, your session types and your pricing. These are estimates, and seasonal dips in summer can affect income.

Check municipal zoning and business licence rules for education use, and police record checks (including vulnerable sector checks) for staff working with children. Also check whether your province regulates private schools or career colleges, and your WCB/WSIB duties.