Neighbourhood convenience store

Nearby residents, workers, students and passing foot or car traffic who want quick, close-to-home shopping.

You buy stock from wholesalers and sell at a markup. Extra income can come from fresh items like pies or coffee, and from high-margin lines such as drinks and snacks.

• Customer service
• Stock ordering and cash handling
• Managing rosters and long opening hours

• Council approval and zoning for a retail premises, plus lease terms, check before signing
• Rules for selling tobacco, vaping products, alcohol or lottery items, which differ by state and usually need a licence or are restricted, check your state regulator
• Food handling and food business registration with your local council if you sell fresh or hot food
• Public liability, theft and property insurance, and workers compensation once you hire staff
• Startup costs add up quickly: lease bond, fit-out (shelving, fridges, point-of-sale system) and opening stock can all be significant, so get quotes before committing
• Long hours and thin margins: check your numbers carefully before committing to a lease

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $100,000 to $350,000, depending on the lease bond, fit-out, point-of-sale system and opening stock. Get quotes before committing to a lease.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $25,000 to $100,000, depending on location and trading hours. Margins can be thin and hours are long, so check your numbers carefully before signing a lease.

Check council approval and zoning for retail premises, and your lease terms. Rules for tobacco, vaping, alcohol or lottery items differ by state and may need a licence. Check food business registration if you sell fresh or hot food.