Local direct mail campaigns for small businesses

Local businesses such as real estate agents, tradies, gyms, cafes, dentists and community groups that want to reach nearby households.

A campaign fee or project price covering design and management, plus a margin on printing and postage or delivery costs.

• Basic graphic design or a good eye for layout
• Clear, persuasive copywriting
• Organising suppliers and deadlines

• Check Australia Post's current rules and pricing for addressed and unaddressed mail
• If you use addressed mailing lists, check how the Privacy Act 1988 applies to collecting, buying and using personal information, and get lists only from reputable sources
• Check your council's rules on letterbox drops and respect 'no advertising' signs on letterboxes
• Check whether your council requires approval to run a business from home
• Public liability or professional indemnity insurance may be worth considering
• Proofread carefully, as a printing error on thousands of copies is costly

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $500 to $3,000, depending on your design tools, how you set up your supplier arrangements and how much you spend on promoting the business to local clients.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $800 to $4,000, depending on how many campaigns you run and their size. The estimate assumes at least about 8 hours of work a week.

Check Australia Post's current rules and pricing, how the Privacy Act 1988 applies if you use addressed mailing lists, and your council's rules on letterbox drops and 'no advertising' signs. Also check whether your council requires approval to run a business from home.