Fabric and clothing wholesale unit with trade counter

Tailors, dressmakers, costume makers, upholsterers, boutiques, uniform suppliers and market traders.

Margin between your buying and wholesale prices, with volume discounts for regular customers. Cutting fabric by the metre or selling by the roll or carton gives you different price points.

• Knowing fabrics and garment ranges
• Stock control and ordering
• Customer service and relationship building
• Managing cash flow

• Check lease terms, zoning and council approval for a trade counter or showroom
• Public liability insurance, plus contents and stock insurance
• Workers compensation insurance once you hire staff (state schemes differ)
• Check import duties and labelling rules, including children's clothing safety standards
• Rent and unsold stock are a heavy fixed cost, so test demand before taking a long lease

Startup costs are typically around $15,000 to $70,000, depending on the size of your unit and how much stock you carry. Rent and unsold stock are heavy fixed costs, so test demand before a long lease. These are estimates.

Monthly revenue is typically around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on your range, your trade customers and your location. The estimate assumes at least about 30 hours a week. Treat these figures as estimates only.

Check your lease terms, zoning and council approval for a trade counter or showroom. Check public liability, contents and stock insurance, and workers compensation once you hire staff. Also check import duties and labelling rules, including children's clothing safety standards.