Home-Based handmade chocolates

Gift buyers, locals at markets, people ordering for weddings, birthdays and corporate gifts, and small local shops that stock gift items.

Selling boxes and bars at a set price per item, plus custom orders such as wedding favours. Busy periods like Easter, Christmas and Mother's Day often bring the biggest sales.

• Patience and attention to detail
• Tempering and working with chocolate
• Creative flavour and packaging ideas
• Basic food safety

• Council food business registration and kitchen inspection, and whether your council allows food production at home
• Food safety supervisor and handler training requirements, which vary by state
• Labelling rules for ingredients and allergens such as nuts, milk and soy, check Food Standards Australia New Zealand guidance
• Public liability and product liability insurance
• Chocolate melts in summer, so plan for storage and delivery in hot weather

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $2,000 to $8,000, depending on your equipment, chocolate and packaging, and insurance. These are estimates, so price your own moulds, ingredients and packaging before you begin.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $3,500, depending on how many markets, online orders and gift buyers you reach. The estimates start from about 8 hours of work a week.

Check council food business registration and kitchen inspection, and whether your council allows food production at home. Also check food safety supervisor and handler training in your state, allergen labelling guidance from Food Standards Australia New Zealand, and public liability and product liability insurance.