Furnace parts sourcing from home

Maintenance contractors, heat treatment shops, foundries, ceramics and glass makers, and small manufacturers with ageing furnaces.

Mark-up on each part or order, plus fees for urgent sourcing or hard-to-find and obsolete parts. Some customers may sign up for repeat supply of regular consumables.

• Reading part numbers and technical specs
• Sales and building trade relationships
• Organised quoting, ordering and follow-up

• Public liability and product liability insurance, as a wrong or faulty part can cause costly downtime or safety issues
• Parts for gas-fired equipment may need to meet Australian Standards or certification, so check with your state's gas regulator
• Installing gas or electrical parts needs a licensed tradesperson, so supply only unless you hold the licence
• If importing, check customs, GST on imports and how long shipping takes before promising delivery dates
• Check council rules if you run a home-based business or store any stock at home

Startup costs are typically around $2,000 to $8,000, based on estimates, depending on insurance, quoting tools and any small amount of stock. You order from suppliers only when a customer buys.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on how many maintenance firms and plants you supply, the margins you add and the hours you put in.

Check public liability and product liability insurance, and whether gas-fired parts need Australian Standards or certification with your state's gas regulator. Installing gas or electrical parts needs a licensed tradesperson. Also check import rules and council rules for home businesses.