Neighbourhood fish shop

Local households, especially around Christmas and Easter, plus restaurants, cafes and caterers buying regular trade orders.

Retail sales per kilo or item, plus wholesale-style orders to local businesses. Value-added items like marinated fish, platters and ready-to-cook packs can lift margins.

• Fish knowledge and filleting
• Buying and stock control
• Customer service and relationship building
• Basic bookkeeping

• Food premises registration and fit-out inspection by your local council, check requirements before signing a lease
• Food safety supervisor and food handler training rules, which vary by state
• Lease terms, rent and fit-out costs, which are the biggest financial risk
• Stock wastage and cold chain failures, such as fridge breakdowns
• Public liability and property insurance, plus workers compensation once you hire

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $40,000 to $150,000, depending on the lease, shopfront fit-out, refrigerated display cabinets and opening stock. Treat this as a rough estimate and get your own quotes before signing a lease.

Check food premises registration and fit-out inspection with your local council before signing a lease. Also check food safety supervisor and food handler training rules, which vary by state, plus public liability and property insurance, and workers compensation once you hire.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on location, range, trade clients and how well you control wastage. The estimate assumes from about 40 hours a week, and revenue is not the same as profit.