Beachwear shop in a seaside town

Holidaymakers, day-trippers and locals who need swimwear or beach gear, often on impulse or because they forgot something.

You buy stock wholesale and sell at a markup. Sales peak in the warm months and school holidays, with extra from add-on items like sunscreen and hats.

• Choosing stock that suits your local customers
• Customer service and sizing advice
• Basic bookkeeping and stock control

• Strong seasonality: plan cash flow to cover the quieter months
• Commercial leases: have a solicitor read it and check the length, rent reviews and exit terms
• Public liability and contents or stock insurance
• Register an ABN and check when GST registration applies to your turnover
• Check with your local council about any signage or trading requirements
• Stock risk from unsold fashion lines at the end of the season

Startup costs are typically around $25,000 to $100,000, depending on the premises, fit-out and how much stock you buy. Unsold fashion lines at the end of the season are a stock risk, so plan your buying.

Monthly revenue is typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on your location, range and the time of year. These are estimates only, and strong seasonality means you should plan cash flow to cover the quieter months.

Have a solicitor read the commercial lease and check the length, rent reviews and exit terms. Also check public liability and contents or stock insurance, ABN and GST registration, and any council signage or trading requirements.