Foot care clinic room

Local residents, older people, walkers and runners, and people sent by GPs or other health providers. Some clients may claim part of the cost through private health cover, depending on your qualifications.

A fee per appointment, with longer consults costing more. Selling basic foot care products and adding other practitioners later can build income further.

• Recognised foot care or podiatry qualification
• Infection control and sterilising
• Customer service and booking management
• Basic bookkeeping

• Podiatrist is a protected title, check what you can offer and call yourself without registration
• Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
• Council approval for your premises, and your state health department's infection control rules
• Lease terms and fit-out costs, ask about shorter or flexible agreements first
• Keeping patient records private under privacy rules
• Register for an ABN, and check when GST applies to your turnover

Startup costs are typically around $12,000 to $55,000, depending on whether you rent a shared room or small shopfront, your fit-out, and the treatment chair and sterilising equipment. Ask about flexible lease terms first.

Monthly revenue is typically around $4,000 to $18,000, depending on location, how many appointments you fill and referrals from local health providers. These are revenue estimates, not profit, starting at about 20 hours a week.

Podiatrist is a protected title, so check what you can offer and call yourself without registration. Also check council approval for your premises, your state health department's infection control rules, insurance, and privacy rules for patient records.