Custom Light Fittings Workshop

Interior designers, architects, builders, hospitality and retail owners, and homeowners doing renovations.

Quoted prices per project or per fitting, with larger fit-out jobs and repeat orders from designers bringing in steadier income than one-off sales.

• Metalwork, woodwork or glasswork
• Reading plans and working to a brief
• Quoting and project management
• Working safely with tools and electrical parts

• Making fittings may not need a personal licence, but mains-powered fittings are electrical equipment. Check with your state or territory electrical regulator whether your products must be tested, certified or registered under the Electrical Equipment Safety System before you sell them, and who can legally do the wiring
• Installing or connecting fittings to a building's wiring generally must be done by a licensed electrician, so plan who does this for each job
• Product liability and public liability insurance, plus workers compensation once you hire
• Check with your council about zoning and permits for workshop use, including noise, fumes and waste
• Cash flow, since custom jobs need materials bought before final payment, so consider deposits

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $10,000 to $40,000, depending on workshop rent and fit-out, your tools and equipment, and the materials you buy for early jobs. Treat this as a rough estimate and get your own quotes.

Check with your state or territory electrical regulator whether mains-powered fittings must be tested, certified or registered before you sell them, and who can legally do the wiring. Also check that connecting fittings to a building's wiring is done by a licensed electrician, plus council rules for workshop use.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how many jobs you take, the size of each project and your pricing. The estimate assumes from about 30 hours a week, and revenue is not the same as profit.