Local masonry and landscape supply yard

Bricklayers, small builders, landscapers, and householders doing renovations, retaining walls or garden projects.

You buy in bulk from manufacturers and wholesalers and sell at a markup. Extra income comes from delivery fees and trade accounts with repeat customers.

• Knowing building materials and how they are used
• Customer service and quoting
• Managing stock and cash flow
• Safe handling of heavy materials

• Council zoning and planning approval for a yard with heavy truck traffic
• A high risk work licence for forklift operation, and your state's work health and safety rules
• Public liability and product insurance, plus workers compensation once you hire staff
• Cement and masonry dust: check your state's safety rules on silica dust and manual handling
• Trade customers paying late, so set credit limits before offering accounts
• Stock tied up in the yard can strain cash flow in slow building periods
• Startup costs add up quickly: opening stock, a forklift, hardstand and fencing, a delivery truck, and lease bond and fit-out all need funding

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $150,000 to $500,000, depending on opening stock, a forklift, hardstand and fencing, a delivery truck, and lease bond and fit-out. Treat this as a rough guide and get quotes for each item before committing.

Check council zoning and planning approval for a yard with heavy truck traffic, a high risk work licence for forklift operation, and your state's work health and safety rules, including silica dust and manual handling. Also check public liability, product and workers compensation insurance.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $15,000 to $70,000, depending on your stock range, location and how many trade customers you win. That is revenue, not profit. Expect to work around 40 hours a week or more.