Children's furniture shop with a showroom

Parents and grandparents buying for a new baby or a growing child, plus nurseries, childcare centres and early learning providers.

Retail margin on furniture and mattresses, with extra from delivery, assembly, gift items and bulk orders for childcare centres.

• Retail and customer service
• Buying and stock control
• Managing a lease and basic bookkeeping

• Shop leases can be a big long-term commitment, get advice before signing
• Mandatory safety standards for cots and some nursery products, check with the ACCC (Product Safety Australia)
• Check council rules for signage, fit-out and opening hours
• Public liability and stock insurance, plus workers compensation if you hire staff
• Slow sales months and tied-up cash in unsold stock, keep a buffer
• Check GST registration and Australian Consumer Law obligations on returns and warranties

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $25,000 to $100,000, depending on the lease, fit-out and opening stock. Monthly revenue is typically around $8,000 to $40,000 as an estimate, depending on your location, range and foot traffic.

Things to check include shop lease terms (get advice before signing), mandatory safety standards for cots and nursery products via the ACCC (Product Safety Australia), council rules on signage, fit-out and opening hours, insurance, and GST and Australian Consumer Law obligations.

Useful skills include retail and customer service, buying and stock control, and managing a lease with basic bookkeeping. As an estimate, plan on at least around 35 hours a week, and keep a cash buffer for slow months and unsold stock.