Home-based drafter for renovations and extensions
Turn homeowners' sketches and surveys into plans for council approval, working from a home office.
- A$3k-12k
- Part-time
- From home
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
A home-office drafting business producing floor plans, elevations, sections and site plans for renovations, extensions, granny flats and small new builds. Your drawings support council or private certifier applications and give builders something to quote from.
Your first three steps
- Choose your CAD software (such as AutoCAD, Revit, ArchiCAD or BricsCAD) and practise on a few sample house plans
- Check your state's registration or licensing requirements for drafting and building design work, and arrange professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Set up an ABN and a simple portfolio page, then contact local builders and certifiers to offer your services
Who pays
Homeowners planning to renovate or extend, small builders, owner-builders and property investors.
How it makes money
Fixed fee per project or per stage (concept, approval drawings, construction drawings), plus hourly rates for changes and revisions.
Skills that help
- Technical drawing and CAD software
- Knowing building plan requirements
- Clear communication with clients and builders
Watch out for
- Registration or licensing for building designers and drafters differs by state and by type of building, so check with your state's building regulator
- Professional indemnity insurance, because errors in drawings can be costly
- Council approval may be needed to run a business from home, so check with your local council
- Plans must meet the National Construction Code and local council rules, and these change, so keep your knowledge current
- Software subscriptions are an ongoing cost
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: home-based drafter for renovations and extensions
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 home drafting business in Australia?
Startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on your computer, CAD software, insurance and other setup needs. These are estimates only. Software subscriptions are an ongoing cost, so factor them into your running budget.
Do I need a licence or registration to work as a drafter?
Check before you start. Registration or licensing for building designers and drafters differs by state and by type of building, so check with your state's building regulator. Also check professional indemnity insurance and whether your council requires approval to run a business from home.
How much revenue can a home-based drafter make?
Monthly revenue is typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how many jobs you take on and how large the projects are. These figures are estimates only. You would typically plan on at least about 15 hours a week.
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