Local outdoor gear shop

Bushwalkers, campers, climbers, families heading away for the holidays and travellers needing gear for a trip.

Retail margin on products sold, plus extras like gear hire, repairs, boot fitting and pack fitting. Sales usually peak before school holidays and in the cooler months.

• Knowledge of outdoor gear and activities
• Customer service and fitting advice
• Stock buying and ordering
• Basic bookkeeping

• Public liability and stock/contents insurance
• Lease terms, including rent reviews and fit-out costs
• Money tied up in stock, plus seasonal swings and unsold items
• Australian Consumer Law, including refunds and guarantees for faulty goods
• Rules for storing and selling gas canisters and fuel, check with your local council and state regulator
• Competition from big chains and online sellers, so you need a clear point of difference
• Register for an ABN and check when GST registration applies

Startup costs are typically around $40,000 to $150,000, depending on the shop size, the amount of stock you buy and fit-out costs. These are estimates, so check lease terms and supplier pricing for your own plan.

Monthly revenue is typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on location, range and seasonal demand. This is revenue before costs, and the estimate assumes at least about 40 hours a week of shop time.

Check public liability and stock insurance, lease terms including rent reviews, and Australian Consumer Law on refunds and guarantees. Also check rules for storing and selling gas canisters and fuel with your council and state regulator, plus ABN and GST.