Home-Based appliance trade supplier

Independent appliance and furniture shops, kitchen and bathroom fitters, builders, property managers and small hospitality operators.

You earn the margin between your trade buying price and your trade selling price. Margins are modest, so you need repeat customers and decent order sizes.

• Sales and negotiating with suppliers
• Organised with orders, invoices and deliveries
• Comfortable with product specs and brands

• Electrical equipment rules: check that products are approved and marked for sale in your state or territory
• Energy rating labelling for some appliances, check the current requirements
• Australian Consumer Law guarantees and who handles warranty and returns, you or the supplier
• Thin margins and customers paying late, consider credit checks and clear payment terms
• Whether your council needs approval for a home-based business
• GST registration once you reach the turnover threshold

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your trade account set-up, home office and insurance, and how much stock, if any, you hold.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on your accounts and order sizes. Margins can be thin and customers may pay late, so consider credit checks and clear payment terms.

Check that electrical products are approved and marked for sale in your state or territory, current energy rating labelling requirements, and Australian Consumer Law guarantees. Also check council approval for a home-based business and GST registration once you reach the turnover threshold.