Home renovation contractor
Manage and deliver kitchen, bathroom and extension jobs for local homeowners, using licensed subcontractors.
- A$30k-120k
- Full-time
- Out and about
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
You quote, plan and run renovation jobs from start to finish. You may do some of the work yourself and bring in licensed trades such as plumbers, electricians and tilers for the rest.
Your first three steps
- Check your state or territory building licensing body to see what licence or registration you need for the size of job you want to take on
- Get an ABN, a business bank account, and quotes for public liability and contract works insurance
- Build a simple quote and contract template, then line up reliable local subcontractors and offer to quote on a few small jobs
Who pays
Homeowners renovating or extending, landlords, and real estate agents who need property upgrades.
How it makes money
Fixed-price or cost-plus quotes per project, with a margin on labour and materials for managing the job. Larger jobs are usually paid in stages.
Skills that help
- Construction knowledge
- Quoting and budgeting
- Project management
- Managing subcontractors
- Clear communication with clients
Watch out for
- Building licence or registration requirements, which differ by state and territory and often depend on job value, so check your state's licensing body
- Home warranty or home building compensation insurance for residential work above certain values, check your state's rules
- Public liability and contract works insurance, plus workers compensation once you hire staff
- Building permits, council approvals and Australian Standards compliance
- Cash flow risk if you pay trades and suppliers before clients pay you, use staged payments in written contracts
- Startup costs depend heavily on what you already own: budget for licence fees, insurance premiums, a vehicle, tools and enough working capital to cover materials and trades between payment stages
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: home renovation contractor
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 home renovation business?
Startup costs are typically around $30,000 to $120,000, depending on what you already own. Budget for licence fees, insurance premiums, a vehicle, tools and enough working capital to cover materials and trades between payment stages.
How much can a renovation contractor earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on the number and size of jobs you run. Cash flow can be tight if you pay trades and suppliers before clients pay you, so consider staged payments.
What licences and rules should I check?
Check building licence or registration requirements with your state's licensing body, as they differ by state and territory and often depend on job value. Also check home warranty insurance, building permits, council approvals and Australian Standards compliance.
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