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

74 ideas

These 74 ideas suit people who like making, fixing or supplying physical things and want to start without a factory or big loan. Some are hands-on, such as made-to-order furniture from a home workshop, small-batch plastic fabrication from a garage or home-shed decorative ironwork.

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

Stacked metal bars and sheets stored in a supplier's warehouse.

Online metal and fixings supplier for small workshops

Sell cut-to-size metal, fixings and consumables to small fabricators online, with stock sent direct from your wholesalers.

A$3k-15k
Side hustle
Online

A craftsman shaping a metal bracket at a bench in a small workshop.

Home workshop metal repairs and small jobs

Repair and make small metal items like brackets, trailer fittings and garden pieces from your own shed or garage.

A$1.5k-7k
Side hustle
From home

Stacked marble slabs and tiles displayed in a stone supplier's yard.

Marble sourcing for tradies and renovators

Source marble slabs and tiles from wholesalers and deliver to site, with no big yard to run.

A$3k-15k
Side hustle
From home

Close-up of steel ball bearings arranged on a workbench in a workshop.

Online bearing supplier for workshops

Sell ball, roller and plain bearings online to local workshops, farms and garages, shipped direct from your supplier or a small home stock.

A$2k-10k
Side hustle
Online

A craftsman grinding and shaping a steel knife blade in a workshop.

Custom knife maker from a home workshop

Grind and finish chef, hunting and everyday knives in your shed or garage and sell them online and at markets.

A$2k-8k
Side hustle
From home

Watchmaker using a loupe to repair a mechanical watch movement at a bench.

Home-based watch and clock repair

Service and repair watches and clocks from a home workshop for private owners and local jewellers.

A$2k-10k
Side hustle
From home

Mobile antique and grandfather clock service

Visit homes to service, set up and repair grandfather, wall and mantel clocks that are hard to move.

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

Craftsman building a wooden guitar in a musical instrument workshop.

Custom guitar and ukulele maker

Build guitars, ukuleles or similar instruments to order from a home workshop for local players.

A$3k-15k
Side hustle
From home

Stacked wooden barrels in a brewery or winery storage cellar.

Used barrel broker for craft drinks makers

Source used wine and spirit barrels and sell them on to local breweries, distilleries and wineries.

A$3k-15k
Side hustle
From home

Workers stamping and finishing metal kitchenware in a small production workshop.

Handmade metal homewares from a home workshop

Make small metal items like trivets, planters and hooks in a garage workshop and sell at markets and online.

A$1.5k-7k
Side hustle
From home

Sculptor carving a decorative pattern into a block of stone by hand.

Stone carver working from a home workshop

Carve garden pieces, plaques and decorative stonework to order from a workshop at home.

A$2k-8k
Side hustle
From home

Watchmaker assembling tiny gears of a watch movement at a workbench.

Home-based watch microbrand

Design your own watch range, assemble from sourced parts and sell to collectors online.

A$3k-15k
Side hustle
From home

Operator collecting printed posters and documents from a digital printer.

Home-based online print studio

Take orders online for flyers, posters and business cards, then print and post them from a spare room.

A$1.5k-6k
Side hustle
From home

Bolts of cotton fabric and spools of yarn stacked in a textile supplier's store.

Online cotton fabric and yarn shop

Sell cotton fabric and yarn online to sewers, crafters and small designers, packed and posted from home.

A$2k-10k
Side hustle
From home

Metalworker shaping hot iron on an anvil in a forge.

Home-shed decorative ironwork

Make small gates, brackets, planters and garden pieces in your shed and sell to locals and local trades.

A$3k-12k
Side hustle
From home

Craftsperson turning a wooden bowl on a lathe in a workshop.

Home workshop woodturner

Turn bowls, pens and decorative pieces in a garage workshop and sell at markets and online.

A$2k-8k
Side hustle
From home

Workers sewing garments on industrial machines in a small clothing factory.

Home-based small-run clothing maker

Sew small batches of clothing from home for local labels, boutiques and custom clients.

A$1.5k-7k
Side hustle
From home

A craftsperson weaving a willow basket by hand at a wooden workbench.

Willow basket workshop for shops and commissions

Run a small workshop making baskets for gift shops, nurseries and custom orders.

A$5k-15k
Part-time
Own premises

A metalworking lathe and milling machine in an engineering workshop.

Metalworking machinery agent (home-based)

Sell lathes, mills, press brakes and welders to local workshops, ordering from suppliers only when a customer buys.

A$2k-10k
Side hustle
From home

A printing press running sheets of colourful brochures in a print workshop.

Home-based short-run digital printer

Print brochures, flyers and stationery in small runs for local businesses from a spare room or garage.

A$5k-20k
Side hustle
From home

Bins of bulk screws and fasteners in a warehouse supplier.

Online screws and fasteners shop

Sell screws, bolts and fixings in bulk packs online to tradies and small manufacturers, shipped from home.

A$2k-10k
Side hustle
Online

A fabricator welding sheet metal in a workshop with sparks flying.

Home workshop metal fabricator

Make custom gates, brackets, trailers parts and small frames to order from a garage or shed workshop.

A$3k-12k
Side hustle
From home

Copper pipes, sheets and wire stacked in a metal supplier's warehouse.

Online copper sheet, pipe and offcuts shop

Sell cut-to-size copper sheet, pipe and offcuts online to makers, small workshops and tradies, posted from your shed or small storage space.

A$3k-15k
Side hustle
Online

Sailmaker sewing and cutting large sail canvas in a sail loft workshop.

Mobile sail repair and servicing

Repair torn sails, restitch seams and fix covers for boat owners at marinas and yacht clubs.

A$2k-7k
Side hustle
Out and about

About these ideas

Others are lighter on equipment, like an online metal supplier for small orders. Before you choose, think about where the work will happen. Check your local council's rules on noise, fumes, deliveries and running a trade from home, and whether your insurance covers tools and stock. Then work out what you already know, how much space and storage you need, and who your first five customers could be. A $20,000 budget goes further when you start with one product or service and add more later.

More ideas

Questions

Can I run a manufacturing business from my home or garage in Australia?

Often people do, but it depends on where you live. Check your council's zoning and home business rules, noise and fumes limits, and any restrictions from a landlord or strata body. Also ask your insurer whether home workshop activity is covered.

What should I budget for beyond tools and materials?

Allow for public liability and product insurance, workshop safety gear, packaging, freight, website costs and some working capital for stock. Check whether you need a licence or registration for your trade, and speak to an accountant about ABN, GST and record keeping.

How do I decide between making products and reselling or supplying them?

Making gives you more control over quality and margins but needs skills, space and equipment. Supplying or reselling is usually cheaper to start. Compare your skills, storage room, supplier terms and how easily customers could buy the same item elsewhere before committing.