Small office refresh and repair jobs

Repaint, re-floor and fix up small offices and tenancies for local businesses and landlords.

Startup costA$3k to A$12k
Monthly revenueA$3k to A$12k
Time needed15+ h/week
First incomeWeeks
  • A$3k-12k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
  • Licence or permit needed

Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.

What it is

Hands-on refurbishment of small offices and tenancies: painting, patching walls, replacing carpet tiles or vinyl planks, and fitting simple partitions or ceiling tiles. You work on one room or one suite at a time.

Your first three steps

  1. Check which of your skills (painting, flooring, plasterboard) you can offer yourself and which you would need a licensed trade for
  2. Get an ABN, public liability insurance and a simple quote template
  3. Introduce yourself to local property managers and agents and offer to quote on their next tenancy turnover
Who pays

Small business owners, landlords, property managers and real estate agents who need a tenancy refreshed between tenants or an office tidied up.

How it makes money

Fixed quote per job or a day rate, with materials charged on top. Repeat work from property managers can keep your diary steady.

Skills that help
  • General building and finishing skills
  • Accurate measuring and quoting
  • Reliable and tidy on site
Watch out for
  • Building work licensing and the value limits that apply differ by state, so check with your state's building or licensing body
  • Electrical and plumbing work must be done by licensed trades
  • Public liability insurance, and possibly other cover, before you start
  • Older buildings may contain asbestos, so check before sanding, drilling or removing anything
  • Work out of hours may be needed so you do not disrupt tenants

Deep research report · Australia

Everything you need to start: small office refresh and repair jobs

Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.

  • Startup costs with real prices
  • Licences, registration and rules
  • Pricing: what others charge
  • Break-even example
  • Finding your first customers
  • 30-day launch plan
  • Risks and how to reduce them
Ready in about 2 minutes · one-off payment, tax included

See a full sample report

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start an office refurbishment business?

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on your tools, vehicle and insurance. Check public liability insurance and any other cover you may need before you start taking jobs.

Do I need a licence to refurbish offices in Australia?

Check building work licensing and value limits, which differ by state, with your state's building or licensing body. Electrical and plumbing work must be done by licensed trades, and older buildings may contain asbestos, so check before sanding or drilling.

How much can you earn refurbishing small offices?

Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on how many jobs you take and their size. The minimum time estimate is around 15 hours a week, and some work may need to be done out of hours.

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