Home studio bag and soft goods maker

Online shoppers, market visitors, gift and boutique shops, and local businesses wanting branded items.

Sell finished items at a set price direct to customers, and wholesale larger batches to shops at a lower price per item.

• Confident sewing and pattern cutting
• Costing materials and your time
• Photographing and listing products online

• Check with your local council whether you need approval to run a home-based business
• Public liability and product liability insurance, especially for items like children's products
• Children's products can have mandatory safety standards, check the ACCC Product Safety Australia site
• Clothing and textile labelling rules may apply to some items, check with the ACCC
• Fabric prices and shipping costs can quickly eat into thin margins

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on the machines and tools you already own, your fabric and the cost of setting up an online shop. Starting with a small range can keep spending down.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $300 to $2,500, depending on what you make, your prices and where you sell. Fabric prices and shipping costs can eat into thin margins, so cost your time and materials carefully.

Check with your local council whether you need approval to run a home-based business. Also check public liability and product liability insurance, mandatory safety standards for children's products on the ACCC Product Safety Australia site, and whether clothing and textile labelling rules apply.