Trades business ideas you run from your own premises

85 ideas

These 85 ideas suit people who want a proper base for a trade business, whether that's a workshop, a yard or a trade counter. Some are hands-on, like a piano repair and restoration workshop or a hydraulic cylinder and pump repair workshop.

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5k to 20kOver 20kFrom homeOut and aboutOnline
A craftsperson repairing a leather bag at a workbench with tools.

Leather repair shop

Open a small shopfront repairing leather bags, shoes and jackets for walk-in customers.

  • A$12k-50k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
A craftsman shaping a copper vessel with hammer and anvil in a workshop.

Custom copper fabrication and repair workshop

Make and repair copper vessels, cookware and fittings for breweries, venues and homeowners from a small workshop.

  • A$8k-40k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises
Joiner fitting a wooden door into its frame in a workshop.

Door showroom and trade counter

Open a small showroom and stockroom selling doors, frames and hardware to builders, joiners and homeowners.

  • A$40k-150k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
A cabinetmaker shaping wood on a workbench to build a fitted furniture unit.

Fitted cabinetry maker with a workshop

Make and install kitchens, wardrobes and built-ins for homeowners, builders and renovators.

  • A$20k-100k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Coils of rubber hoses and brass fittings are stacked in a supplier's warehouse.

Hose and fittings trade counter

Run a small unit selling hose and fittings over the counter and making up hoses for local trades and farms.

  • A$40k-150k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Shelves of paint tins and varnish cans in a trade supply warehouse.

Trade counter for paints and finishes

Open a small trade-focused shop or unit selling paints, varnishes and finishing products to local tradies.

  • A$40k-150k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
A locksmith cutting a copy of a house key on a machine at a counter.

Key cutting kiosk or small shop

Run a small counter or kiosk cutting keys while customers wait, and sell locks and key accessories.

  • A$15k-60k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Structural steel beams being erected on a building site with cranes.

Small structural steel fabrication workshop

Fabricate beams, posts, stairs and frames in a rented unit for local builders and homeowners.

  • A$30k-120k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Stacks of copper and plastic pipes and fittings in a supply warehouse.

Irrigation and poly pipe supply yard

Open a small trade yard selling poly pipe, irrigation fittings and PVC to farmers, landscapers and local contractors.

  • A$30k-120k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Workers installing steel structural frames and railings on a building site.

Small metal fabrication workshop

Rent a small unit, make gates, railings and steel frames for builders and owners, and install them.

  • A$25k-90k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Workers stacking solar panels and inverter boxes in an equipment warehouse.

Local solar trade supplier for installers

Stock panels, inverters and mounting kits from a small unit so local solar installers can pick up or get next-day delivery.

  • A$40k-200k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Tradesperson laying flooring planks across a room in a renovated home.

Flooring supply and fit with a small showroom

Sell and fit carpet, timber, vinyl and tile to homeowners from a small shopfront or unit with samples.

  • A$20k-80k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
A technician repairing piano action and strings inside an open piano.

Piano repair and restoration workshop

Take in pianos for larger repairs, restringing and restoration in your own garage or small unit.

  • A$5k-25k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises
Rows of red fire extinguishers and fire blankets stocked in a supply warehouse.

Local fire safety trade supplier

Stock and deliver fire safety gear to installers, maintenance firms and businesses in your area.

  • A$12k-60k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Craftsperson cutting and polishing a gemstone on a lapidary wheel in a workshop.

Opal and gemstone cutting workshop

Run a small workshop cutting opal and other gems for miners, jewellers and visitors, often near gem-producing areas.

  • A$30k-90k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
A jeweller repairs a ring clasp at a small workshop bench.

Jewellery and watch repair workshop

Run a small shopfront or unit repairing jewellery, clasps and watch batteries and straps for walk-in customers and trade clients.

  • A$15k-60k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Carpenter assembling a timber gazebo in a back garden.

Custom timber gazebo and pergola builder

Design, build and install made-to-measure timber gazebos and pergolas for local homeowners.

  • A$8k-35k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises
Technician repairing an antique clock mechanism in a workshop.

Clock and watch repair shopfront

Open a small shop that repairs clocks and watches, with walk-in trade, battery changes and antique restoration.

  • A$10k-40k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Decorative glass blocks being stacked into a partition wall by a builder.

Glass block showroom and trade counter

Run a small showroom and storage unit stocking glass blocks for local builders, installers and homeowners to see and collect.

  • A$25k-90k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Blacksmith hammering heated iron on an anvil in a forge.

Blacksmith workshop: gates and ironwork

Run a rented workshop making gates, railings and decorative ironwork to order for homes and businesses.

  • A$10k-45k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
A mason carving lettering into a granite headstone in a workshop.

Headstone and memorial workshop

Design, make and install headstones and memorials for local families, funeral directors and cemeteries.

  • A$20k-90k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Boxes of LED light bulbs stacked on warehouse shelves.

Lighting trade counter

Run a small unit where tradies and shops can pick up globes, lamps and fittings, with delivery on the side.

  • A$20k-60k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Technician repairing a violin at a workbench in a repair shop.

Instrument repair shop with a shopfront

Run a small repair shop with walk-in trade, accessories and repairs for local musicians.

  • A$15k-60k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Workers assembling a timber log home frame on a building site.

Custom log home builder with a workshop

Cut and prepare timber logs in your own workshop, then build custom log homes for private clients.

  • A$40k-150k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises

About these ideas

Others are supply-focused, such as a lighting trade counter or a small trade yard for cement and building supplies. They tend to suit people with trade experience, product knowledge or a good network of local contractors. Before anything else, think about the lease or purchase cost, how much space and storage you need, and whether you can hold stock. Check zoning, access for deliveries and what your council allows at the site. Then work out how many regular customers you'd need to cover rent and running costs.

More ideas

Questions

Do I need a licence to run a trades business from my own premises?

It depends on the trade and your state or territory. Check whether the work itself needs a licence, and whether selling certain products or handling materials has extra requirements. Your state licensing body and local council can confirm what applies to you.

What should I check before leasing a workshop or yard?

Check the zoning and permitted uses with your council, lease length and rent reviews, loading and parking access, storage space, power and ventilation. It's worth having a solicitor read the lease and asking whether the site suits your equipment and deliveries.

Is a trade counter or a repair workshop easier to start?

Neither is automatically easier. A trade counter usually needs more money tied up in stock and supplier relationships, while a workshop relies more on your skills and equipment. Compare your budget, experience and how steady the local demand looks before choosing.