Online trade supplies shop
Sell a focused range of tools, safety gear or consumables to tradies online, shipped from home.
- A$2k-10k
- Side hustle
- Online
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
A web shop focused on one trade niche, such as painters' supplies, plumbing consumables or safety gear. You buy from wholesalers or importers and post orders to customers, or have the supplier ship direct.
Your first three steps
- Pick one trade niche you understand and ask a few tradies what they struggle to buy or want delivered
- Find Australian wholesalers or distributors and compare trade prices, minimum orders and delivery terms
- Set up a simple online shop with a small range and tell local tradies through trade groups and social media
Who pays
Sole-trader tradies, small contractors and businesses that want convenient ordering and delivery.
How it makes money
The margin between your wholesale cost and shop price, plus repeat orders and bundled kits for particular jobs.
Skills that help
- Knowing the trade you are supplying
- Online selling and basic marketing
- Organising stock and orders
Watch out for
- Australian Consumer Law guarantees and returns, which apply to what you sell
- Imported products may need to meet Australian safety or electrical standards, so check before you sell
- Council approval may be needed to run a home-based business or store stock at home
- Tight margins against big retailers, so choose a niche and be clear on your delivery costs
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: online trade supplies shop
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
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start an online trade supplies shop?
Startup costs are typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on your website, your starting stock and whether suppliers ship direct. Choosing a focused niche can help you keep your initial stock spend under control.
How much can an online trade supplies shop earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on your niche, pricing and marketing. Margins can be tight against big retailers, so be clear on delivery costs. These are estimates only.
What should I check before selling trade supplies online in Australia?
Things to check include Australian Consumer Law guarantees and returns, whether imported products meet Australian safety or electrical standards, and whether you need council approval to run a home-based business or store stock at home.
Other ways to run this business
Tool and equipment hire shop
Hire out tools and site equipment to tradies and builders from a small shop or yard.
- A$30k-150k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Mobile site supplier by ute or van
Deliver tools, fixings and consumables straight to tradies on site so they don't lose time at the trade shop.
- A$8k-30k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Similar trades ideas
Online solar hot water systems and parts shop
Sell solar hot water systems and spare parts online to installers and householders, shipped direct from your supplier.
- A$2k-10k
- Part-time
- Online
Playground equipment reseller (subcontracted install)
Quote and sell play equipment to schools, councils and nurseries, and hire a local crew to install it.
- A$2k-10k
- Part-time
- From home
Home-based door and hardware supplier
Quote and order-in doors, frames and hardware for local builders and renovators, with no shopfront needed.
- A$2k-10k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home workshop wheelchair repairs
Repair and service wheelchairs and mobility aids from a garage or small workshop, with drop-off and pick-up.
- A$2.5k-10k
- Side hustle
- From home
Carport and pergola kit installer
Install ready-made carport and pergola kits for homeowners, with less design work and lower setup costs.
- A$2k-10k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Plumber side jobs on evenings and weekends
Take small repair and maintenance jobs after hours, alongside a plumbing job, to build a client base.
- A$2k-10k
- Side hustle
- Out and about