Home-Based toy library with pick-up

Local families, grandparents, playgroups and family day care providers who want rotating toys without the clutter.

Monthly or yearly membership fees, with optional tiers for more items at a time, plus a small fee for delivery.

• Organised with bookings and stock
• Careful with cleaning and safety checks
• Basic social media and website setup

• Council rules on home-based businesses, including customer visits and parking
• Public liability insurance, and check whether your home and contents policy covers business stock
• Toy safety and recalls: check items against Australian standards and Product Safety Australia
• Storage space and cleaning time can grow quickly as the collection grows
• Register for an ABN, and check when GST applies as turnover grows

Startup costs are typically around $2,000 to $8,000, depending on how many toys you buy, your shelving and storage, and how you set up online booking. Treat these as estimates and start with a modest collection.

Monthly revenue is typically around $400 to $2,000, depending on how many members you have and what you charge. Plan for at least around 6 hours a week, and note that cleaning and storage time can grow with the collection.

Check council rules on home-based businesses, including customer visits and parking. Also check public liability insurance and whether your home and contents policy covers business stock, toy safety and recalls through Product Safety Australia, and ABN and GST requirements.