Tofu shop with kitchen at the back

Open a small shop making and selling fresh tofu, soy milk and ready-to-cook products.

Startup costA$30k to A$120k
Monthly revenueA$8k to A$35k
Time needed40+ h/week
First incomeMonths
  • A$30k-120k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
  • Licence or permit needed

Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.

What it is

A small shopfront where tofu and soy products are made fresh and sold to walk-in customers, with extra trade supply to nearby restaurants.

Your first three steps

  1. Research local areas with demand and compare shop rents before choosing a site
  2. Talk to your local council early about food premises approval, fit-out rules and zoning
  3. Build a simple costing for equipment, rent and daily output, then trial recipes for shelf life and consistency
Who pays

Local home cooks, Asian households, vegetarians and nearby restaurants.

How it makes money

Daily sales of tofu, soy milk and related items in-store, plus regular wholesale orders on set days.

Skills that help
  • Food production and hygiene
  • Running a shop and managing stock
  • Customer service
  • Basic bookkeeping
Watch out for
  • Council approval for food premises and fit-out standards, which differ by state and council
  • Lease terms and rent as the biggest ongoing cost
  • Food Safety Supervisor and training requirements in your state
  • Workers compensation insurance once you hire staff
  • Daily production for a short shelf life product, so waste can eat into profits
  • Public liability and product liability insurance

Deep research report · Australia

Everything you need to start: tofu shop with kitchen at the back

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
Ready in about 2 minutes · one-off payment, tax included

See a full sample report

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to open a tofu shop in Australia?

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $30,000 to $120,000, depending on your lease, fit-out and production equipment. Rent is often the biggest ongoing cost, so check lease terms carefully before signing.

How much revenue can a tofu shop make?

Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on location, range and trade supply to nearby restaurants. Daily production of a short shelf life product means waste can eat into profits.

What rules and approvals should I check before opening a tofu shop?

Check council approval for food premises and fit-out standards, which differ by state and council. Also check Food Safety Supervisor and training requirements in your state, workers compensation once you hire staff, and public liability and product liability insurance.

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