Open a local independent shoe shop
Open a small shop selling adults' and kids' shoes with proper fitting advice that online stores can't match.
- A$40k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
A small street or shopping centre store selling footwear for adults and children, such as everyday, school, work and walking shoes. You can focus on a niche like kids' school shoes, comfort footwear or work boots, and offer measuring and fitting advice.
Your first three steps
- Pick a niche and a suburb, then visit nearby shoe shops to see which gaps you could fill
- Contact footwear wholesalers and brand reps to ask about minimum orders, terms and dealer requirements
- Price up a small shop lease, shopfitting and an opening range of stock to build a simple budget
Who pays
Local families buying school and sports shoes, older shoppers wanting comfort and support, and workers needing boots or non-slip shoes.
How it makes money
You buy shoes from suppliers at wholesale prices and sell at retail prices. Extra income comes from socks, insoles, polish and care products, and from repeat customers who come back each season.
Skills that help
- Friendly customer service and fitting advice
- Stock buying and sizing ranges
- Basic bookkeeping and stock control
Watch out for
- Stock is your biggest cost, and sizes, seasons and fashions can leave you with unsold pairs
- Retail lease terms, rent reviews and outgoings, so check them with a lawyer and your state's retail lease rules
- Public liability and contents insurance, plus workers compensation once you hire staff
- Australian Consumer Law obligations on refunds, repairs and faulty goods
- Register for an ABN, and for GST once turnover reaches the threshold
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: local independent shoe 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 open a shoe shop in Australia?
Startup costs are estimates, typically around $40,000 to $120,000, depending on your premises, fit-out and opening range. Stock is your biggest cost, and sizes, seasons and fashions can leave you with unsold pairs.
What should I check before leasing a shoe shop?
Check the retail lease terms, rent reviews and outgoings with a lawyer, along with your state's retail lease rules. Also check public liability and contents insurance, Australian Consumer Law obligations, and ABN and GST registration.
How much can a small shoe shop earn and how many hours does it take?
Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on location, range and season. Expect to work at least around 40 hours a week, especially while you are running the shop yourself.
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