Handmade wooden toys from a home workshop

Parents, grandparents and gift buyers at markets and online, plus a few independent gift shops and early learning centres.

Selling each toy at a price that covers materials, your time and fees. Add custom orders such as named toys and wholesale orders to local shops.

• Woodworking and finishing
• Product design
• Basic photography and online selling

• Check the mandatory and voluntary toy safety standards that apply to your products, especially for children under 3 (small parts, finishes, strangulation risks)
• Check whether your council requires approval for a home-based business, including noise and dust from tools
• Public liability and product liability insurance
• Workshop safety: dust extraction, guards and protective gear
• Register an ABN and check when you need to register for GST

Startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on your woodworking tools, dust extraction, materials and insurance. These are estimates, so cost your own setup before buying.

Monthly revenue is typically around $300 to $3,000, depending on how many toys you make and where you sell them. It can start from about 8 hours a week.

Check the mandatory and voluntary toy safety standards for your products, especially for children under 3. Also check whether your council requires approval for a home-based business, arrange public and product liability insurance, and register an ABN.