Freelance water ski instructor

Beginners, parents of children and teens, cottage owners and holiday guests, and adults wanting to improve.

Paid per lesson or per hour, either by the student directly or as a split or hourly rate from the club or resort. Packages of several lessons help fill your calendar.

• Confident water skier
• Patient, clear teaching
• Water safety and first aid
• Comfortable working with kids and nervous beginners

• Commercial general liability insurance that covers water sports instruction, check whether a club's policy covers you
• Pleasure craft operator card and boat safety rules from Transport Canada, check requirements for the person driving
• Rules about commercial use of lakes, docks and public beaches, check with the municipality or provincial parks
• Short season in most provinces, so income is concentrated in summer
• Weather cancellations and cold water, plan for lost lesson days
• Whether you are an employee or self-employed with a club, and how GST/HST applies once you pass the small supplier threshold

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $400 to $2,000, depending on the gear you need and how you set up your lessons. Treat these as estimates, and check whether a club or lake partner already provides the boat.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $3,000, depending on how many lessons you teach. Income is concentrated in a short summer season, and weather cancellations can mean lost lesson days.

Check commercial general liability insurance that covers water sports instruction, and whether a club's policy covers you. Check Transport Canada's pleasure craft operator card and boat safety rules for the driver, local rules on lakes, docks and beaches, and whether you are an employee or self-employed.