Miniatures and hobby shopfront

Local hobbyists, collectors, parents and grandparents buying gifts, and tabletop gamers who want to see and handle items before buying.

Retail sales of stock, plus paid workshops, painting sessions or table hire, and online orders to reach customers beyond your suburb.

• Deep hobby knowledge
• Retail and customer service
• Stock ordering and budgeting
• Running community events

• Rent, fit-out and stock tie up a lot of cash, so work out your break-even point first
• Check lease terms, council approval and zoning for retail use with your local council
• Public liability and contents insurance are worth checking before opening
• Check when GST registration is required and set up point-of-sale records
• Check product safety rules for items sold for children
• Hiring staff means checking award wages and workers compensation in your state or territory

Startup costs are typically around $25,000 to $100,000, depending on rent, fit-out and how much stock you carry. Work out your break-even point first, as rent, fit-out and stock tie up a lot of cash.

Monthly revenue is typically around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on location, range and how well you build a hobby community through events. These are estimates, not guarantees, and rent and wages come out of revenue.

Check lease terms, council approval and zoning for retail use, and public liability and contents insurance. Also check when GST registration is required, product safety rules for children's items, and award wages and workers compensation if you hire staff.