Fabric wholesale warehouse and trade counter

Upholsterers, curtain and soft furnishing makers, fashion and costume workrooms, fabric shops and interior designers.

Margin on bulk fabric sales, with trade accounts for regular customers. Cutting services, samples and ranges that customers can't easily get elsewhere help lift margins.

• Buying and managing stock
• Trade sales and relationship building
• Cash flow and credit control
• Handling and cutting rolls safely

• Lease terms, bond and zoning, so check with your local council that the unit allows trade sales
• Public liability, stock, fire and theft insurance, plus workers compensation if you hire staff
• Money tied up in stock and the risk of slow-moving ranges
• Customer credit risk if you offer trade accounts, so set clear payment terms
• If importing, check customs duty, GST on imports and exchange rate risk
• Manual handling of heavy rolls, so plan for safe lifting

Startup costs are typically around $30,000 to $120,000, depending on the unit, lease bond and how much stock you hold. Money tied up in slow-moving ranges is a risk, so plan your stock buying carefully.

Monthly revenue is typically around $12,000 to $55,000, depending on your ranges, trade customers and payment terms. These are estimates, and customer credit risk is worth planning for if you offer trade accounts.

Check lease terms, bond and zoning, and confirm with your local council that the unit allows trade sales. Also check insurance (public liability, stock, fire, theft, workers compensation), import duties and GST if importing, and safe handling of heavy rolls.