Small aboriginal art gallery with a shop front

Collectors, visitors and tourists, interior designers, corporate buyers and people buying a special gift.

Commission on consigned works or markup on bought works, plus framing and exhibition events. A mailing list of repeat buyers matters most.

• Knowledge of Aboriginal art and its cultural context
• Curating and displaying artwork
• Sales and relationship building
• Running a shop and basic bookkeeping

• Rent, business rates and fit-out costs are the main risk. Check whether you can start with a short lease
• Only buy from ethical sources and keep certificates of authenticity
• Check whether the Artist's Resale Right applies to your sales
• Check VAT and import duty on artworks you bring in
• Insurance for stock, public liability and employer's liability if you hire staff
• Sales can be slow and uneven, so keep a cash buffer

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around £12,000 to £60,000, depending on your premises, fit-out and opening stock. Rent, business rates and fit-out are the main risks, so check whether a short lease is possible.

Check whether the Artist's Resale Right applies to your sales, VAT and import duty on works you bring in, and insurance for stock, public liability and employer's liability if you hire. Buy only from ethical sources and keep certificates of authenticity.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around £4,000 to £20,000, depending on location, the artworks you sell and how many visitors you attract. Sales can be slow and uneven, so keep a cash buffer.