Neighbourhood garden centre

Home gardeners, renters with balcony gardens, community garden groups, and small landscapers and maintenance gardeners buying in smaller quantities.

Retail margin on plants and supplies, bulk-bag and delivery charges, and trade accounts for local landscapers. Sales are strongest in spring and autumn.

• Plant knowledge and care advice
• Stock buying and ordering
• Customer service
• Physical work lifting bags and plants

• Check council zoning and planning rules for the site, including signage and outdoor display
• Public liability and stock insurance, plus workers compensation once you hire
• Rules on selling certain chemicals, and on moving plants, soil and mulch between regions (for example fire ant and biosecurity restrictions), check your state's agriculture department
• Stock can die or go unsold; plan for weather and seasonal swings in sales

Estimates suggest startup costs typically sit around $40,000 to $150,000, depending on the site and stock. Revenue is estimated at roughly $15,000 to $60,000 a month, though stock can go unsold, so plan for seasonal swings.

Check council zoning and planning rules for your site, including signage and outdoor display. Also check public liability and stock insurance, workers compensation once you hire, rules on selling certain chemicals, and plant, soil and mulch movement restrictions with your state's agriculture department.

Estimates suggest at least around 40 hours a week, as it is a shopfront business with a yard to run. Useful skills include plant knowledge and care advice, stock buying and ordering, customer service, and being comfortable lifting bags and plants.