Take over a local newsagency

Local residents, commuters, workers and school families who drop in daily or weekly.

Margin on each item sold, plus commissions on products like newspapers and lottery tickets where your agency is approved. Gifts, cards and stationery add extra margin.

• Friendly, reliable customer service
• Stock ordering and cash handling
• Managing and rostering casual staff

• Lottery and newspaper distribution agreements usually need approval from the operator or publisher, so check before you commit
• Falling newspaper and magazine sales, so look at how much income comes from other products
• Lease terms, rent reviews and the true figures in the accounts
• Public liability and property insurance, plus workers compensation once you hire staff
• Long opening hours, often six or seven days a week

Estimates suggest startup costs typically sit around $100,000 to $500,000, depending on the business, its stock and the lease. Check the true figures in the accounts before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $40,000 to $150,000, depending on location and product mix. With newspaper and magazine sales falling, look at how much income comes from other products.

Lottery and newspaper distribution agreements usually need approval from the operator or publisher, so check before you commit. Also check lease terms and rent reviews, insurance, workers compensation once you hire, and the long opening hours.