Home-Based food and drink export trader

Overseas importers, distributors, specialty retailers and restaurant groups, who pay you for the products you supply.

You buy at a producer price and sell at a higher price per carton or pallet. The difference covers freight, paperwork and your profit. Margins can be thin, so volume and repeat orders matter.

• Negotiating and building relationships
• Careful paperwork and organisation
• Patience with long sales cycles
• Knowledge of one product category and one overseas market

• Some products (such as meat, dairy, seafood, eggs and some plant products) need export permits or registration through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, so check your product's rules
• Check the importing country's labelling, ingredient and food safety requirements before you ship
• Get paid safely: check payment terms such as upfront payment or letters of credit, and consider trade credit risk
• Check your insurance needs, including cargo insurance and product liability
• You need an ABN, and exports are often GST-free, but check GST rules with the ATO or an accountant
• Check with your local council whether you need approval for a home-based business, especially if you store stock at home

Startup costs are typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on your product niche, how much stock you buy and your shipping and insurance arrangements. These are estimates, so get freight and cargo insurance quotes before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your product, your target market and how many orders you secure. This is an estimate, and sales cycles with overseas buyers can be long.

Some products, such as meat, dairy, seafood, eggs and some plant products, need export permits or registration through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Check the importing country's labelling and food safety rules, and your GST position with the ATO or an accountant.