Mexican goods shop

Mexican and Latin American community members, home cooks, restaurants and cafes, gift buyers and visitors.

Retail margin on food and homewares, with extra income from gift hampers, cooking kits and occasional tastings or workshops.

• Sourcing and buying stock
• Customer service
• Knowledge of Mexican food and culture
• Basic bookkeeping and stock control

• Check with your local council whether you need to register as a food business, as requirements vary by state and by what you sell (for example, selling only sealed packaged food is often treated differently from preparing or serving food)
• If you import stock yourself, check biosecurity and import rules with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; buying from a local importer or wholesaler usually avoids this
• Food labelling must follow Australian standards (Food Standards Code), so check requirements for imported products
• Public liability and stock insurance
• Commercial leases are a long commitment, so have them reviewed before signing
• Register for GST once turnover reaches the threshold

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $25,000 to $90,000, depending on your premises and fit-out, and how much pantry food, crafts and homewares stock you buy. Commercial leases are a long commitment, so have yours reviewed.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on location, range and how well you reach the Latin American community, home cooks and gift buyers. That is revenue before costs, with at least about 40 hours a week estimated.

Check with your local council whether you must register as a food business, as this varies by state and by what you sell. Also check import and biosecurity rules if you import, Food Standards Code labelling, insurance, and GST registration.