Awning sales with a subcontract fitter

Householders, cafés, shops and strata or small property managers who want shade or weather protection.

You earn the margin between the customer's price and the supplier and fitter costs. Repeat work from cafés and property managers helps build steady income.

• Sales and talking through options
• Measuring and drawing up quotes
• Organising suppliers and fitters
• Clear communication with customers

• Public liability and, depending on your set-up, professional indemnity insurance
• You stay responsible to the customer if the subcontractor's work is poor, so vet fitters and agree terms in writing
• Some states may require a licence for contracting or arranging building work, check with your state licensing body
• Home-based business may need council approval
• Supplier lead times and price rises can squeeze margins on fixed quotes

Startup costs are typically around $1,000 to $6,000, depending on your measuring gear, quoting tools, marketing and insurance. Using a subcontract fitter means you need little kit or stock of your own.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on how many quotes you convert and the size of the jobs. These are revenue estimates, not profit, and hours start at about 8 per week.

Check public liability and possibly professional indemnity insurance. You stay responsible to the customer if the subcontractor's work is poor, so vet fitters and agree terms in writing. Also check state licensing for arranging building work, and council approval for a home-based business.