Custom knife maker from a home workshop

Home cooks, hunters, campers and fishers, gift buyers and collectors who want a handmade knife.

You sell each finished knife at a price that covers materials, time and a margin. Sales come through your own website, social media, craft and makers' markets, and custom orders.

• Patience and attention to detail
• Comfortable with power tools and grinding
• Basic design sense for blade shapes and handles
• Photographing and describing your work

• State and territory knife laws differ, check what you can make, sell, post and display, including rules on selling to under 18s
• Some knife types are prohibited or restricted in some states, check before you design or list them
• Check with your local council about home-based business approval, noise and dust
• Public and product liability insurance, as well as home insurance cover for a workshop
• Grinding dust, sparks and sharp tools are real hazards, so plan for safety gear and good ventilation

Startup costs are typically around $2,000 to $8,000, depending on the grinder, tools, steel, heat treating setup and safety gear you choose. Treat this as an estimate and price your equipment before you start.

Monthly revenue is typically around $400 to $2,000, depending on how many knives you make, your prices and whether you take commissions. These are estimates only, and the work can start at around 8 hours a week.

Knife laws differ by state and territory, so check what you can make, sell, post and display, including sales to under 18s. Also check whether some knife types are restricted, and your council's rules on home-based businesses.