Creative business ideas you can start for up to A$20,000

82 ideas

This page collects 85 creative business ideas with startup costs up to A$20,000, so you can turn a skill into income without taking on heavy debt. They suit makers, performers, designers and visual people who want to work for themselves, whether from a spare room or a small rented space.

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1k to 5k Over 20k From home Out and about Own premises Online

Dancers performing on a theatre stage under warm spotlights.

Touring theatre and dance troupe for schools

Take a short, curriculum-linked show or workshop to schools, libraries and community events.

A$1.5k-6k
Part-time
Out and about

Independent theatre or dance production company

Stage your own shows in hired venues and earn from tickets, grants and local sponsors.

A$3k-15k
Side hustle
Out and about

Photographer taking pictures of a couple during their wedding ceremony.

Weekend wedding photographer

Photograph a small number of weddings a year on weekends, alongside your day job.

A$3k-9k
Side hustle
Out and about

A jewellery designer sketches ring designs at a studio desk beside tools.

Bespoke jewellery designer for custom commissions

Design one-off rings, pendants and keepsakes made to order for customers, such as engagement and wedding pieces.

A$3k-15k
Part-time
From home

A sound stage with film lights and cameras set up for a shoot.

Home-based video production for local businesses

Shoot and edit promo, training and social videos for clients, working from a home edit desk.

A$4k-15k
Side hustle
From home

Drone hovering above a coastline capturing aerial photographs and video.

Drone photographer for property listings

Shoot aerial photos and short videos of homes and land for agents, builders and owners.

A$2.5k-8k
Side hustle
Out and about

Aerial video for events and local businesses

Capture drone footage of events, venues, farms and worksites for promo videos and updates.

A$3k-9k
Side hustle
Out and about

Scrapbooking papers, stickers and craft tools laid out on a crafting table.

Online scrapbooking supplies shop

Sell scrapbooking papers, stickers and tools to hobbyists across Australia through your own website.

A$1.5k-7k
Side hustle
Online

Sheet music scores and licensing paperwork spread across a desk.

Sync licensing music catalogue

Build a catalogue of tracks you control and license them to filmmakers, advertisers and content creators.

A$1.5k-6k
Side hustle
Online

Young audience watching an actor performing on a colourful children's theatre stage.

Touring children's shows for schools

Take a short, curriculum-linked play to primary schools and childcare centres, with a small cast and a simple set.

A$2k-10k
Part-time
Out and about

Ticketed children's theatre shows

Stage family shows in a hired community hall or theatre and sell tickets to local parents during school holidays and weekends.

A$3k-15k
Side hustle
Out and about

Home embroidery studio

Stitch names, logos and small designs onto garments and bags for locals and small businesses from a spare room.

A$3k-12k
Side hustle
From home

Composer writing notes on a score beside a piano.

Home studio composer for video, games and ads

Write and produce original music for videos, games, podcasts and ads from your home studio.

A$1k-6k
Side hustle
From home

Designer pinning a made-to-measure gown on a client in an atelier.

Bespoke clothing studio at home

Design and sew made-to-measure outfits for private clients, with fittings in your home studio.

A$2k-10k
Side hustle
From home

An artist working on a painting on an easel in a bright studio.

Full-time studio painter selling through galleries

Rent a studio space, build a body of work and sell through galleries, art fairs, commissions and your own exhibitions.

A$1.5k-7.5k
Full-time
Own premises

Airbrushes, paints and compressor arranged on a shop counter.

Online airbrush supplies store

Sell airbrushes, compressors and paints online to modellers, artists and custom painters across Australia.

A$3k-15k
Side hustle
Online

A taxidermist working on a mounted animal specimen in a workshop.

Home workshop taxidermist for hunters

Mount game birds, fish and feral animals for local hunters and collectors from a home workshop.

A$1.5k-6k
Side hustle
From home

Silversmith shaping a silver ring with hand tools at a bench.

Home studio silver jewellery maker

Make handmade silver rings, pendants and earrings from a home bench and sell them at markets and online.

A$1.5k-6k
Side hustle
From home

Dealer showing a painting to a collector in a gallery.

Art sourcing for interior clients

Select and sell artwork for homes, offices and venues, working with designers and earning a margin on each placement.

A$1.5k-8k
Part-time
Out and about

Engineer mixing music on a console in a professional recording studio.

Home recording and mixing studio

Record, mix and master for local bands, singers and podcasters from a treated room at home.

A$3k-12k
Side hustle
From home

Online mixing and mastering service

Mix and master songs sent by artists and producers from anywhere, delivered online.

A$1.5k-6k
Side hustle
Online

Visitors viewing colourful Aboriginal dot paintings hanging on gallery walls.

Online Aboriginal art gallery

Sell ethically sourced Aboriginal artworks through your own website, with artist stories and certificates of authenticity.

A$3k-15k
Side hustle
Online

Craftsman carving and assembling a wooden guitar in a workshop with tools.

Custom guitar and ukulele builder

Build handmade guitars, ukuleles and similar instruments to order from a shed or garage workshop.

A$4k-20k
Side hustle
From home

Reporter typing a news story at a desk in a busy newsroom.

News photo and video agency

Capture local news events on camera and sell the photos and footage to newsrooms and broadcasters.

A$3k-12k
Side hustle
Out and about

About these ideas

Ideas include a home recording and mixing studio, a bridal and formalwear dressmaker, and stained glass commissions and repairs. Before you pick one, work out who will actually pay for your work and how you will reach them. Check what equipment you really need to begin, whether you can start part-time, and how reliable the income is between commissions. Compare the ideas against your skills, your space and the hours you can give.

More ideas

Questions

How do I choose a creative business that fits a A$20,000 budget?

List the equipment, materials, insurance and marketing you would need to take your first paying job, then price them. Many creative businesses can start smaller and add gear as income grows, so check what is essential on day one.

Do I need licences or approvals to run a creative business from home in Australia?

It depends on your activity and location. Check your local council about home business rules, whether you need an ABN, and whether any trade, building design or venue requirements apply. Noise, visitors and signage are common things to ask about.

How can I find my first customers for a creative business?

Start with people who already buy what you offer, such as local businesses, schools, event organisers or families. Build a small portfolio, ask early clients for testimonials, and check whether local markets, venues or community groups could help you get seen.