Business services ideas you can start for up to $20,000

135 ideas

Business services suit people who already have a trade, professional background or strong organisational skills and want to sell that know-how to other businesses. This page lists 135 ideas with startup costs up to $20,000, including an independent business broker, a home-based customs broker for small importers and a commercial vessel surveyor.

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1k to 5kOver 20kFrom homeOut and aboutOwn premisesOnline
Notary stamping and signing a legal document on a desk at an office.

Notary public with a small office

Run a by-appointment notary service from a small office, focused on documents for overseas use.

  • A$3k-15k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises
Scientific instruments and glassware arranged on a laboratory bench with a researcher.

Online niche lab supplies shop

Sell a focused range of lab consumables and small instruments online to schools, clinics and small labs.

  • A$2k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
Assessor with clipboard examining storm damage to a house roof.

Independent field loss adjuster

Inspect damaged homes and businesses and report on claims, taking jobs from insurers and adjusting firms as a contractor.

  • A$2k-8k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
Recruitment consultant meeting a job candidate across a desk in an office.

Niche recruiter working from home

Find permanent staff for local employers in one field you know well, working from a home office.

  • A$1.5k-6k
  • Part-time
  • From home
Two people shaking hands over documents during a company sale agreement.

Independent business broker

Run your own broking practice from home, helping local owners sell their businesses and finding buyers.

  • A$3k-15k
  • Full-time
  • From home

Business broker with an established brokerage

Join an existing brokerage as a commission-based agent and use its brand, listings and training to start selling businesses.

  • A$1.5k-6k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
Agent showing a commercial lease to clients in front of an empty office.

Home-based office leasing agent

Help small businesses find and negotiate an office lease, working from home and getting paid by commission or fee.

  • A$2k-10k
  • Part-time
  • From home
A technician servicing a commercial espresso machine in a cafe kitchen.

Mobile coffee machine service and repair

Service, clean and repair commercial coffee machines at cafés and offices, keeping them running between big repairs.

  • A$3k-12k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
Conservation craftsman repairing ornate stonework on a historic building facade.

Heritage advisor and report writer

Help owners and councils with heritage reports, approvals and repair advice for older buildings.

  • A$1.5k-8k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
Staff at desks processing data on computers in a shared administrative office.

Small team back-office outsourcing

Build a small team that handles admin, data processing and customer support for businesses on ongoing contracts.

  • A$3k-15k
  • Full-time
  • Online
Architect reviewing building design drawings and plans at a drafting desk.

Home-based residential building designer

Draw plans for home extensions, renovations and small builds for local homeowners from your home office.

  • A$2k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
An agent handing house keys to a tenant in front of a rental home.

Boutique rental property manager

Manage rentals for a small group of local landlords from a home office, with a personal touch.

  • A$6k-20k
  • Part-time
  • From home
Boxes of desk accessories and stationery stacked in a supplier's warehouse.

Home-based desk accessories wholesaler

Sell desk accessories and stationery in bulk to small shops and resellers, with stock kept at home and orders taken online.

  • A$2k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
Person typing information from paper documents into a computer at an office desk.

Data processing service for business clients

Run a small team handling regular document processing, invoice entry and database upkeep for ongoing business clients.

  • A$1.5k-7k
  • Full-time
  • Online
Shipping containers loaded at a port for export to overseas buyers.

Home-based export trader (buy to order)

Source Australian products for overseas buyers, buy only once they order, and handle the shipping paperwork.

  • A$2k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
Heaps of sorted scrap metal stacked in an outdoor recycling yard.

Mobile scrap metal collection by ute

Collect scrap from tradies, farms and households, sort it and sell it on to a metal recycler.

  • A$1.5k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
A finance broker reviewing loan documents with a client across a desk.

Home-based mortgage broker

Help people find and apply for home loans from a home office, paid commission by the lender.

  • A$3k-12k
  • Part-time
  • From home

Asset finance broker for small businesses

Arrange finance for vehicles, tools and equipment for tradies and small businesses, paid by the lender.

  • A$2.5k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
A researcher interviewing a customer with a clipboard and notes during a survey.

Local focus groups and in-person interviews

Meet customers face to face through focus groups, street intercepts and store visits for businesses that want honest feedback.

  • A$1.5k-6k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
Passport and visa forms on a desk during an immigration advice meeting.

Online registered migration agent

Guide individuals and employers through visa applications by video and email, working from home.

  • A$6k-20k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
Uniformed security guard standing at a building entrance checking access.

Event and venue security crew

Run a small licensed security crew for local events, bars and venues, mostly on evenings and weekends.

  • A$3k-15k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
Rows of labelled archive boxes on shelves in a secure records storage facility.

Pickup-and-store records service

Collect boxed records from local offices and store them in rented secure space, with admin run from home.

  • A$3k-15k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
Branded pens, mugs and tote bags displayed on a table ready for printing.

Online branded merchandise service for businesses

Run a website-led merch service for staff gifts, uniforms and events, with orders sourced from local and overseas suppliers.

  • A$1.5k-7k
  • Part-time
  • Online
A worker processing healthcare invoices and claim forms at a desk with a computer.

Billing service for specialists and larger practices

Run the full billing and debt follow-up for specialists and busy practices, with a small team as you grow.

  • A$3k-12k
  • Full-time
  • Online

About these ideas

Many can run from a home office, so your main costs tend to be software, insurance, training and marketing rather than premises. Before you choose, check whether the work needs a licence, registration, professional indemnity cover or formal qualifications, since several of these fields are regulated. Think about who your first five clients would be and how you would reach them.

More ideas

Questions

Do I need a licence to start a business services company in Australia?

It depends on the service. Financial advice, mortgage and insurance broking, customs brokering and security work can all involve licensing or registration. Check with the relevant regulator, such as ASIC or your state authority, before you take on clients.

What costs should I plan for beyond the initial setup?

Look at professional indemnity and public liability insurance, software subscriptions, industry memberships, ongoing training and accounting fees. Some services also have licence renewals or compliance costs. Add a buffer for the months before regular client payments start arriving.

How do I find my first clients for a business-to-business service?

Start with your existing network, former employers and industry contacts. Then consider local business groups, referral arrangements with accountants or other advisers, and a simple website showing your services. Check whether any advertising rules apply to your particular field.