Timber floor sanding and polishing

Homeowners renovating or selling, landlords preparing rentals, real estate agents and small builders.

Quoted price per square metre or per room, depending on floor condition, number of coats and finish type. Repairs and stain work are extra.

• Comfortable using heavy machinery
• Attention to detail for a smooth finish
• Quoting and measuring jobs accurately
• Customer service and reliability

• Public liability insurance, and check whether your state requires a licence or registration for this kind of work
• Fine dust and fumes: use proper extraction and a suitable respirator, and check the safe work rules in your state
• Fire risk from sanding dust and rags soaked in some finishes, so check safe disposal methods
• Mistakes such as sanding too deep or poor finishing are costly, so quote carefully and start with simpler jobs
• GST registration is required once turnover reaches the threshold

Startup costs are typically around $6,000 to $25,000, depending on whether you buy new or used machines, your dust extraction setup and the ute or van you use. Treat these as estimates and get quotes for equipment.

Monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on how many jobs you take, the size of the floors and the finishes you offer. The estimate starts from about 20 hours a week.

Check public liability insurance and whether your state requires a licence or registration for this work. Also check safe work rules for fine dust and fumes, safe disposal of finish-soaked rags, and GST registration once turnover reaches the threshold.