Cut-to-size glass and mirror supplier

Glaziers and builders who need cut panes, plus homeowners, framers, cafes and shopfitters needing mirrors or custom pieces.

You buy full sheets from a glass wholesaler and sell cut pieces at a margin. Charge per piece or per square metre, with extra for polished edges, drilled holes and delivery.

• Careful measuring and accurate cutting
• Safe handling of heavy, fragile sheets
• Quoting and customer service
• Basic stock management

• Public liability and product liability insurance, plus workers compensation once you hire
• Safety rules for handling glass: check your state's work health and safety regulator and training on manual handling and PPE
• Safety glass (toughened or laminated) usually must be made by specialist processors, so check which products you can legally cut and sell for building work
• Breakage waste and storage costs can eat margins
• Check council zoning and approvals for a workshop or industrial unit

As an estimate, startup costs are typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on the workshop or unit you rent, your cutting and handling equipment, and the glass stock you hold.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your customer mix of glaziers, builders and homeowners, and the volume of orders you handle. Breakage waste and storage can reduce margins.

Check your state's work health and safety regulator on handling glass, and which safety glass products you can legally cut and sell for building work. Also check public liability and product liability insurance, and council zoning for a workshop.