Bespoke suit tailor with a small studio
Make suits and shirts to measure for men in a small fitting studio, plus alterations for steady income.
- A$8k-35k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
A small tailoring studio where you measure, cut and make bespoke or made-to-measure suits, jackets, trousers and shirts, and take on alterations between larger orders.
Your first three steps
- Build or refresh your skills through a tailoring course or by working under an experienced tailor, and prepare a portfolio of finished garments
- Look at small studio rooms or shared spaces in suburbs or shopping strips near office workers, and cost the rent against your expected orders
- Set up relationships with cloth merchants and trial a few made-to-measure orders for friends or colleagues to gather reviews
Who pays
Professionals, grooms and wedding parties, and men who want a properly fitted suit for work or special occasions.
How it makes money
A price per garment based on fabric and labour, with deposits on orders. Alterations bring in regular smaller payments between bespoke jobs.
Skills that help
- Pattern cutting and garment construction
- Taking accurate measurements and fitting
- Knowledge of cloth and suit styling
- Sales and customer service
- Managing orders and deadlines
Watch out for
- Commercial lease terms and council approval for the use of the premises, so check before you sign
- Public liability insurance, plus cover for stock, cloth and customers' garments
- Cash flow, since cloth is bought before you are paid, so take deposits
- You need an ABN, and GST registration once turnover reaches the threshold
- Workers compensation insurance if you hire an assistant or machinist (check your state scheme)
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: bespoke suit tailor with a small studio
Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to open a bespoke tailoring studio?
Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on your studio fit-out, machines, cloth stock and lease terms. Taking deposits can help with cash flow, since cloth is bought before you are paid.
How much can a bespoke tailor earn?
Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how many made-to-measure orders and alterations you take on and your pricing. The estimates assume at least about 30 hours a week.
What should I check before setting up a tailoring studio?
Check commercial lease terms and council approval for using the premises before you sign. Also check public liability and stock cover, ABN and GST registration, and workers compensation in your state if you hire an assistant or machinist.
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