Carpet and underlay trade warehouse

Flooring retailers, carpet fitters, builders, property managers and renovators buying for customer jobs.

You buy in bulk from mills and importers and sell by the roll, cut length or square metre at a margin. Fast availability and delivery let you keep regular trade accounts.

• Sales and trade relationships
• Stock control and ordering
• Safe handling of heavy rolls and deliveries

• Stock is a big upfront cost and slow-moving ranges tie up cash
• Public liability, stock and property insurance, plus workers compensation once you hire
• Check your state's rules for forklift or other high-risk work licences and safe manual handling
• Check the unit's zoning and lease terms with your local council before signing
• Credit risk with trade customers, so set clear payment terms

Startup costs are typically around $40,000 to $150,000, depending on your unit, stock range and vehicle. Stock is a big upfront cost, and slow-moving ranges can tie up cash. These figures are estimates only.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $30,000 to $120,000, depending on your range and trade customers. Set clear payment terms to manage credit risk. Expect to work at least around 35 hours a week.

Things to check: your state's rules for forklift or other high-risk work licences and safe manual handling, the unit's zoning and lease terms with your local council, and insurance including public liability, stock, property and workers compensation once you hire.