Furniture maker supplying designers and businesses
Rent a small workshop unit and build custom pieces for interior designers, cafes, offices and shops.
- A$15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
A small rented unit with proper machinery, making custom furniture to a brief for trade clients, such as counters, banquettes, shelving and tables for fit-outs.
Your first three steps
- Put together a portfolio and contact local interior designers and fit-out companies with samples
- Look at small industrial units nearby and compare rent, power supply and access for deliveries
- Get quotes for public liability and product liability insurance, and set up an ABN and simple quote and invoice templates
Who pays
Interior designers, architects, cafes, restaurants, offices and retailers, plus higher-end households.
How it makes money
Quoted per project or per batch, often with staged payments. Repeat work from designers can keep the workshop busy.
Skills that help
- Joinery and machine woodworking
- Working from drawings and specifications
- Project quoting and time management
- Dealing professionally with trade clients
Watch out for
- Lease terms, zoning and council rules for a workshop with noise, dust and finishes
- Public liability and product liability insurance, plus workers compensation if you hire
- Late payments on larger jobs, so use deposits and staged invoices
- Commercial pieces may need to meet safety or fire rating standards, check with the client and relevant authorities
- Machinery safety and safe storage of finishes and solvents
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: furniture maker supplying designers and businesses
Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a trade furniture workshop?
Startup costs are typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on the workshop unit, machinery and materials you need. These are estimates, so get quotes for your own equipment and lease before committing.
How much revenue can a custom furniture maker earn from trade work?
Monthly revenue is typically around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on how many trade jobs you win and their size. This is revenue before materials, rent and other costs, so work out your own margins.
What should I check before starting a furniture workshop?
Check lease terms, zoning and council rules for noise, dust and finishes, plus public liability and product liability insurance. Also check any safety or fire rating standards for commercial pieces with the client, and machinery and solvent safety.
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