Mobile gold and jewellery buyer

Members of the public clearing out old jewellery, downsizers, people settling an estate, and people who want quick cash. You are paid by the refiner or wholesale buyer when you on-sell.

You pay the seller a percentage of the metal's value and sell to a refiner for a bit more. The margin per item is thin, so profit depends on volume, accurate testing and watching the gold price.

• Honest, clear dealing with customers
• Careful testing and weighing
• Comfortable handling cash and record-keeping
• Spotting fakes and plated pieces

• Second-hand dealer or pawnbroker licensing differs by state and territory, so check your state's rules
• Record-keeping and ID checks for sellers, and the risk of buying stolen goods, so check what your state police and regulator expect
• Check whether AUSTRAC anti-money-laundering obligations apply to your buying and selling
• Carrying cash and valuables, so look at insurance for stock and personal safety
• Gold prices move, so hold stock for as short a time as possible
• Public liability insurance and an ABN

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $5,000 to $20,000, depending on your testing and weighing equipment, how much buying cash you carry, and insurance. Treat this as an estimate and price your own setup.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on how many sessions you run and what you buy. Gold prices move, so hold stock for as short a time as possible.

Check your state's second-hand dealer or pawnbroker licensing, seller ID and record-keeping expectations, and the risk of buying stolen goods. Also check whether AUSTRAC obligations apply, insurance for cash and stock, public liability cover and your ABN.