Custom timber or brick garage builder
Design and build made-to-measure garages that match the house, from slab to roof, for local homeowners.
- A$85k-250k
- Full-time
- Out and about
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
You build one-off garages in timber frame or brick, matching the style of the existing home. The work covers drawings, approvals, slab, frame or brickwork, roofing, doors and finishing, often using subcontractors.
Your first three steps
- Confirm with your state's licensing body which builder or contractor licence you need and how to get it
- Build relationships with a draftsperson or building designer, a concreter and a roofer
- Photograph a first project, even a small one, and put together a simple portfolio and quote template
Who pays
Homeowners adding parking or storage, people renovating before a sale, and owners of larger blocks wanting a double garage or workshop.
How it makes money
Fixed-price quotes or staged contract payments, with a margin on materials and subcontractor work on top of your own labour.
Skills that help
- Carpentry or bricklaying
- Reading plans and working with certifiers
- Costing and project management
- Managing subcontractors
Watch out for
- Building licence requirements, which vary by state and territory and by the value of the work
- Council or certifier approval, setbacks and overlays such as bushfire or heritage, check your local council
- Public liability, contract works insurance and home warranty insurance where your state requires it; premiums and eligibility can be a significant upfront cost, so get quotes early
- Workers compensation insurance once you hire staff
- Cash flow, as material costs are paid before final payment so set a clear staged payment schedule and keep enough working capital to cover the first build
🔒 Full research report for Australia
Real cost breakdown with current prices, licences and registration checklist, local competition, pricing, break-even and a 30-day launch plan, with sources.
Coming soonOther ways to run this business
Similar trades ideas
Local solar trade supplier for installers
Stock panels, inverters and mounting kits from a small unit so local solar installers can pick up or get next-day delivery.
- A$40k-200k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small custom home builder
Build a few bespoke homes a year for private clients, managing licensed trades from slab to handover.
- A$80k-300k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Marble and stone workshop: cut and install
Run a small workshop that cuts natural stone to order, then installs it for homes and commercial clients.
- A$40k-200k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small timber framing yard
Run a small yard stocking framing timber, cut to length for local builders, joiners and self-builders.
- A$40k-200k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Septic pump-out truck service
Empty septic tanks for rural homes and businesses with your own vacuum truck.
- A$60k-200k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Plastering supplies trade counter
Run a small trade yard stocking plasterboard, compounds and plastering tools for local tradies.
- A$60k-200k
- Full-time
- Own premises