Second-hand shop on your local high street

Bargain hunters, students, young families, renters furnishing a first home and shoppers who prefer pre-loved items.

You sell items for more than you paid for them. Some shops also take items on consignment and keep a share of the sale price.

• Spotting items that will sell
• Pricing and bargaining
• Merchandising and display
• Basic bookkeeping

• Rules for second-hand dealers differ by state and territory, so check with your state's fair trading office whether you need a licence or must keep a records register
• Check your council's rules on signage, trading hours and the shop's permitted use before signing a lease
• Secondhand electrical goods, children's items and cots may have safety rules, so check what you can legally sell
• Public liability insurance, plus cover for your stock
• Lease commitments are a real risk if sales are slow, so read terms carefully and get advice before signing
• Be careful about stolen goods, and ask for proof of ownership where required

Startup costs are typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on your shop size, fit-out, lease and opening stock. Treat this as an estimate and read lease terms carefully before signing.

Rules for second-hand dealers differ by state and territory, so check with your state's fair trading office about licences or records registers. Also check council rules, safety rules for electrical and children's items, and insurance.

Monthly revenue is typically around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on location, stock quality and pricing. This is an estimate of sales, not profit. Lease commitments are a real risk if sales are slow.