Strip-Out and soft demolition
Remove old kitchens, walls, ceilings and fit-outs by hand for renovators and shop owners.
- A$5k-25k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
Interior and non-structural demolition using hand and power tools: ripping out kitchens, bathrooms, plasterboard, flooring, ceilings and shop fit-outs, then taking the waste away in a ute, trailer or skip bin.
Your first three steps
- Buy or hire a basic kit of breaker bars, saws, a small breaker and PPE, and sort a ute or trailer for hauling waste
- Check with your state's regulator which work counts as licensed demolition and what asbestos rules apply to the age of buildings you will work in
- Offer strip-out services to local builders and renovators and ask for a trial job
Who pays
Renovating homeowners, builders and carpenters, shopfitters, property managers and commercial tenants finishing a lease.
How it makes money
Fixed price per job or day rate, plus charges for waste removal. Repeat work often comes from builders who need a reliable strip-out crew.
Skills that help
- Handy with tools and physically fit
- Reliable and tidy on customers' sites
- Knowing what is structural and what is not
- Basic quoting
Watch out for
- Whether your work needs a demolition licence varies by state and territory, so check before taking jobs
- Asbestos in older homes and commercial buildings; stop work and use licensed assessors and removalists if suspected
- Public liability insurance, and workers compensation once you hire
- Hidden services in walls such as live wiring and pipes; use licensed electricians and plumbers to isolate them
- Dust, noise and manual handling injuries, so use proper PPE and plan lifts
- Tip fees and waste rules, which vary by council
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: strip-out and soft demolition
Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a strip-out and soft demolition business?
Startup costs are typically around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on your ute or trailer, hand and power tools, PPE and insurance. These are estimates only, and your choice of vehicle and equipment will shift the total.
How much revenue can a strip-out business make?
Monthly revenue is typically around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on how many renovators, builders and shop owners you work for, the size of jobs and your pricing. Tip fees vary by council, so factor them into quotes.
What should I check before taking strip-out jobs?
Whether your work needs a demolition licence varies by state and territory, so check before taking jobs. Also check asbestos rules for older buildings, hidden services in walls, public liability insurance, and tip fees and waste rules in your council area.
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