Mobile blinds and curtains service

Homeowners, landlords, property managers and small businesses such as offices and clinics.

You mark up the supplier's price on each product and charge for measuring and installation. Larger jobs, like a whole house, bring in more per visit.

• Accurate measuring
• Basic DIY and fitting
• Customer service and advising on style
• Organising orders and deliveries

• Commercial general liability insurance, and check cover for work in clients' homes
• Measuring mistakes on made-to-measure products can be costly, so agree your remake policy with suppliers first
• Check whether your municipality needs a business licence, and the rules for a home-based business
• Child safety rules apply to corded blinds, so check Health Canada requirements for the products you sell
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold, and check provincial sales tax rules

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on your sample books, fitting tools, vehicle needs and insurance. You don't need a shop, which helps keep the starting figure lower.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on how many homes you visit, the products you sell and your local demand. The estimate assumes at least about 15 hours a week.

Check commercial general liability insurance covers work in clients' homes, and agree your remake policy with suppliers. Also check municipal business licence rules, Health Canada requirements for corded blinds, and GST/HST and provincial sales tax rules.