Immigration practice for local employers and communities
Open a small office helping local employers and walk-in clients with work permits, hiring foreign workers and residence applications.
- C$15k-40k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A small street-level or shared office practice that handles applications for individuals and also supports employers who hire international workers, such as farms, restaurants, care homes and trades businesses. You must be properly authorized to practise, for example as a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer.
Your first three steps
- Confirm your authorization to practise and check the rules for operating an office with your regulator
- Talk to local employers, chambers of commerce and settlement agencies about what help they need
- Compare rents for a small or shared office and get quotes for professional liability and commercial general liability insurance
Who pays
Local employers, workers and families, plus community members who prefer meeting in person.
How it makes money
Fixed fees per application, employer packages for several workers, and ongoing support for businesses that hire repeatedly.
Skills that help
- Understanding employer hiring needs
- Careful document and deadline management
- Building trust in a local community
- Basic business admin and bookkeeping
Watch out for
- Only properly authorized people can charge for immigration advice, so staff or partners need the right status too
- Check your regulator's rules on advertising, client agreements, trust accounts and record keeping
- Employer work permit routes change often and can be refused, so avoid promising outcomes
- Office lease and municipal business licence requirements vary by city
- Revenue can be uneven because clients come in waves, so keep a cash buffer
- Check provincial rules on hiring staff, such as WCB/WSIB coverage, and Quebec's own requirements
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: immigration practice for local employers and communities
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 open an immigration consulting office?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around $15,000 to $40,000, depending on the office, lease and setup. Office lease and municipal business licence requirements vary by city, so check them before committing.
How much revenue can a small immigration practice make?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $4,000 to $18,000, depending on your caseload and your mix of employer and individual clients. Clients come in waves, so keep a cash buffer.
What rules should I check before opening an immigration office?
Only properly authorized people can charge for immigration advice, so staff or partners need the right status too. Check your regulator's rules on advertising, client agreements, trust accounts and record keeping, plus provincial WCB/WSIB rules.
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