Second-hand CD and music shop

Local music fans, collectors, gift buyers, and people clearing out collections.

Retail sales of used discs priced above your buying cost, plus extra income from related items and online sales of rarer stock.

• Strong music knowledge across genres
• Valuing and pricing stock
• Running a shop and basic bookkeeping
• Building a loyal local customer base

• Commercial lease terms, get advice before signing
• Public liability and contents insurance
• Check with your local council about shop signage and fit-out approvals
• Rent and slow weeks can squeeze a small shop, keep a cash buffer
• Check that second-hand dealer rules in your state or territory don't apply to you, as some require records of purchases or ID

Startup costs are typically around $10,000 to $50,000, depending on your lease, fit-out and opening stock. Get advice on commercial lease terms before signing, and keep a cash buffer for slow weeks.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on location, stock range and whether you add records, DVDs or online listings. Rent and slow weeks can squeeze a small shop. Plan on roughly 35 hours a week.

Things to check: commercial lease terms, public liability and contents insurance, council approvals for shop signage and fit-out, and whether second-hand dealer rules in your state or territory apply to you, as some require records of purchases or ID.