Start a boutique music publishing business from home

Royalties and licence fees come from broadcasters, streaming services, record labels, venues and screen producers. You then pay the songwriter their agreed share.

You keep an agreed percentage of income earned by the songs you manage, such as performance royalties, mechanical royalties and sync fees. Income builds slowly as the catalogue grows.

• Good ear and knowledge of local music scenes
• Careful admin and record keeping
• Networking and pitching
• Comfortable reading contracts

• Get a music or entertainment lawyer to review contracts, since copyright ownership and royalty splits need to be exact
• Check the current membership rules and fees for APRA AMCOS and any other collecting societies you want to join
• Check whether you need public liability or professional indemnity insurance
• Check council rules for running a business from home
• Income can be slow and uneven, and you may pay for registrations and demos before earning anything
• Register for GST once you reach the turnover threshold

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on registrations, demos and how much contract review you need. Treat this as a rough guide and build your own budget before you commit.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue of around $300 to $1,500, depending on your roster and how many placements you win. Income can be slow and uneven, and you may pay for registrations and demos before earning anything.

Check that a music or entertainment lawyer reviews contracts so copyright ownership and royalty splits are exact. Also check APRA AMCOS membership rules and fees, insurance needs, council rules for home businesses, and GST registration once you reach the turnover threshold.