What Businesses Can I Start With $100K in Australia
In this guide, I’ll walk through:
- How to think about deploying $100K in an Australian context
- Key considerations and risks
- 8 business ideas you can realistically launch (or acquire) with around $100K
- What your next steps should look like
- Frequently asked questions and wrap up
Having a healthy $100,000 cash injection is a great position to be in. It gives you plenty of options — you’re not limited to micro-businesses or side-hustles only. With that budget, you can start something meaningful: something you can scale, something that can generate ongoing income, possibly buy or franchise an existing business, or start something new-build with strong foundations.
Let’s dive in.
Thinking Strategically About the $100K
Before you jump into “what business”, it’s worth spending some time on “how you’ll use that money”, “what your risk comfort is”, and “what you personally bring to the table”.
Understand your personal goals & risk profile
- Do you want this business to be your full-time income, or a side income for a while?
- Are you okay with a slower growth path, or do you want to grow quickly (which usually means higher risk)?
- How comfortable are you investing some of that $100K and possibly borrowing a little more, or do you want to restrict risk strictly to that $100K?
Use the money wisely (not just spend it)
$100K isn’t unlimited when you factor in working capital, marketing, equipment, stock, hiring, rent, utilities, and a buffer for slower months. So:
- Reserve part of the budget for unexpected costs or rough patches.
- Include marketing and launch costs up front.
- Consider whether you’ll need to hire/contract initially or can keep it lean.
Think about acquisition vs startup
You can either build something from scratch or buy/acquire an existing business (or franchise) with the budget. Both have pros & cons:
- Buying an existing business means you often get some revenue stream, some assets, and perhaps staff. But you need to do due diligence, and you may inherit problems.
- Starting a new business gives you more freedom, but likely a slower ramp-up and more unknowns.
Location, industry & regulation matter
Where you are in Australia (metro vs regional) and which industry you pick affects cost, competition, regulation/licensing, and growth potential. Also, certain industries require higher compliance (food, health services, childcare) and higher risk.
Have a clear exit or growth strategy
Even with a 100K start, it’s smart to think ahead:
- How will you grow?
- Will you scale to multiple locations, or keep it local?
- How will you exit or sell eventually?
Thinking ahead helps make decisions today that align with a long-term plan.
Key Things to Watch Out For
Whatever business you pick, be mindful of the common pitfalls.
1. Poor cash flow management
Even profitable businesses fail because they run out of cash. Ensure you have working capital, accessible reserves, and a plan for slower months.
2. Over-extending yourself
It’s tempting to spend the full 100K on equipment or leasehold improvements. But you still need marketing, stock, staff, and contingency. Don’t lock everything into fixed cost.
3. Under-estimating competition or demand
Just because you like an idea doesn't mean there’s a market for it — research your demand, competition, location, and price point.
4. Ignoring regulatory/licensing/compliance
Some businesses look cheap to start, but then you get hit with unexpected licensing, compliance or insurance costs. Always check these up front.
5. Being lone-wolf without support or mentorship
Even very experienced operators benefit from advisers, mentors, and networks. Don’t try to do everything alone.
6. Failing to adapt
Markets change fast (think technology, consumer behaviour, supply chain). Build in flexibility to pivot or adapt.
8 Business Ideas You Can Start (or Buy) With Around $100K in Australia
Here are eight practical business ideas that match the 100K budget range (or less) — each described with what the idea is, cost breakdown/considerations, upside opportunities, and risks. Use these as inspiration.
1. Mobile Food Van / Food Truck
What it is: A food-on-wheels model; you purchase or lease a van/truck, fit it out, pick high-foot-traffic locations or events, perhaps a niche cuisine or artisan coffee van.
Why it works for 100K: Compared to full bricks-and-mortar café, you save on leasehold fit-out. Many used vans cost under $100K, fit-out might be part of budget.
Key cost areas: Vehicle + fit-out, equipment, licensing/health permits, initial stock, marketing/launch, maybe a generator or power/water setup.
Upside opportunities: Flexibility to move to events, festivals, high-traffic areas; lower fixed overhead; strong margins if you hit the right niche.
Risks/considerations: Location research key (foot traffic, zoning), weather and seasonal impacts, maintenance of vehicle, operating hours may be long/harder. Example: One Melbourne food-truck listing in Australia cost around ~$80K and generated solid turnover with morning and event trade.
Bonus Resources:
2. Service Business (Home Services, Cleaning, Landscaping)
What it is: A business offering services rather than products — e.g., commercial or residential cleaning, landscaping/gardening services, handyman services, mobile car detailing.
Why it works for 100K: Lower entry cost compared with retail; you can launch lean, hire/contract as you grow, use equipment as an asset. Good cash-flow potential.
Key cost areas: Equipment, vehicles/tools, marketing (online + local), insurance/licensing, maybe one or two staff to assist, and training.
Upside opportunities: Service businesses often have repeat clients (subscriptions), lower inventory risk, flexibility to scale regionally, and can sell later for a multiple.
Risks/considerations: Depends heavily on labour and reliability; managing staff, customer churn, competition; your reputation is critical. Also may involve early heavy hours to build a client base. As one article noted, cleaning and mobile car wash are among low-cost but viable service ideas.
3. Acquisition of a Micro-Franchise or Existing Business
What it is: With ~100K you could buy into a small franchise (business services, low-physical-asset model) or acquire a small existing business listing (under 100K sale price or part purchase + debt).
Why it works for 100K: Many franchise opportunities and small businesses are listed at this range or lower. For example, business services franchises under $100K in Australia have been documented.
Key cost areas: Franchise fee/licensing, training, marketing, maybe leasehold or move-in cost, and working capital.
Upside opportunities: Established brand/support network (franchise), existing customer base (acquisition), lower startup risk than brand new business, faster revenue generation.
Risks/considerations: Franchise obligations/fees; you may inherit legacy issues; need strong due diligence; must fit your skills and interests. Always review the past financials of existing business.
4. Online/E-Commerce Business
What it is: Selling products online (your own brand or third-party), marketplace store, subscription box model, or digital products (though with 100K, you can scale pretty well). It could also be a “buy and flip” of an online business.
Why it works for 100K: You have room to invest in branding, stock, warehouse/fulfilment, marketing (ads), and maybe automation. Online business can reach Australia-wide and even globally.
Key cost areas: Website/platform, branding, initial stock (inventory), fulfilment/storage, digital marketing, logistics/shipping, and customer support.
Upside opportunities: Scalable, can operate from home or a small warehouse, global reach, and inventory models are flexible.
Risks/considerations: Online competition is intense; you rely on marketing/ad spend; logistics and returns can be costly; need to manage cash flow (stock vs sales). Also you must deliver exceptional customer experience.
Bonus Resources:
5. Boutique Café or Retail Shop in a Regional Area
What it is: A small café, bakery, or retail boutique situated in a regional town rather than expensive city lease; or a small shop in an emerging suburb. With 100K, you can secure a fit-out, equipment, initial stock, and working capital.
Why it works for 100K: Regional rents and fit-out costs are lower; you can build a local loyal customer base; less intense competition than a major city strip.
Key cost areas: Lease/rent, fit-out, furniture/fixtures, equipment, staff wages, stock, marketing/launch, and initial working capital.
Upside opportunities: Community loyalty, local favours local, possibility of being central hub in town, can grow into catering or event side-income.
Risks/considerations: Regional location means smaller population; weather/seasonality; reliance on local economy; you may still need to invest more if growth is quicker than planned. Doing due diligence on lease terms and local demographics is vital.
Bonus Resources:
6. Health & Wellness Studio (Specialist Fitness, Yoga/Pilates, Wellness Retreat)
What it is: A specialist fitness or wellness business — e.g., yoga studio, Pilates studio, boutique gym, wellness retreat business (day-retreats). You can buy an existing studio or build one with your 100K.
Why it works for 100K: With studio leases often smaller (compared to large commercial gyms), you can set up a modest facility, equipment, marketing, and build a community of loyal members.
Key cost areas: Lease of studio, fit-out (mats, props, machines, etc), marketing/community building, staff/instructors, insurance, bookings system, perhaps allied services (juice bar, retail).
Upside opportunities: Membership model gives recurring revenue; upsell workshops, merchandise; community becomes referral machine.
Risks/considerations: Competitive market in cities; may need to niche strongly (e.g., Pilates reformer, high-intensity interval training for older adults, etc.). You must deliver a premium experience or a distinct offering; risk of high churn if services are not differentiated.
7. Childcare or Early Learning Business (Small-Scale)
What it is: Childcare or early-learning services are in high demand in Australia. With 100K, you might not build a massive facility, but you could buy a small existing centre, or start a specialised service (after-school care, preschool additions) in a region or niche (language immersion, Montessori).
Why it works for 100K: The demand is steady. With careful planning, you can start small and expand. You may qualify for government subsidies or grants depending on the region and type.
Key cost areas: Licensing and regulatory compliance, child safety, facilities, staff wages (which are significant), insurance, marketing, initial equipment and toys.
Upside opportunities: High demand, strong community loyalty, potential for growth and expansion, stable recurring income.
Risks/considerations: Heavily regulated, staffing costs are high, compliance and safety risks are large; you need impeccable processes and maybe higher capital if you scale quickly. Must research locations, demographics (young families), and regulatory costs.
8. Niche Manufacturing, Artisan Production or Local Food Brand
What it is: A small manufacturing business (artisan food, craft products, boutique ceramics, local craft beverages) or building a brand around a local product. With 100K, you could set up production, branding, packaging, initial stock, and go to market.
Why it works for 100K: You have enough capital to cover equipment, packaging, initial batch production, marketing and distribution (farmers’ markets, local stores, online). If the product takes off, you can scale.
Key cost areas: Equipment/machinery, production space/rent, certifications/licensing (food safety, etc.), packaging design, marketing/branding, distribution relationships.
Upside opportunities: Unique products have strong appeal; you can tell a local story; you could eventually wholesale to stores or export; good margins with the right product.
Risks/considerations: Manufacturing has overheads; inventory risk (if product doesn’t sell); scaling may need substantial capital; distribution logistics matter; perishables add complexity.
How to Choose Which Idea is Right for You
With so many options, here’s how to narrow it down.
Step 1: Match with your skills & passion
You’ll spend a lot of time building this business. Pick something you understand or are willing to learn. If you love food and hospitality, a food truck or café makes sense. If you’re more operational or service-oriented, maybe home services. Passion helps sustain effort.
Step 2: Evaluate your target market & location
Research population, income levels, competition, foot traffic, online demand (for e-commerce). Regional vs metro trade-offs. What’s the local economy like? Are rents rising fast? Can you get good sites?
Step 3: Estimate cost vs revenue realistically
Build a simple financial model: how many customers per day, average spend, margin, fixed costs, variable costs. How long until break-even? Do you have buffer for 3-6 months of slower trade?
Step 4: Understand regulatory and compliance needs
Food business? Health and safety. Childcare? Licensing. Manufacturing? Certifications. Service business? Insurance and workplace health and safety. Factor in those costs before committing.
Step 5: Consider scalability
If you want to grow beyond one location, pick a model that can scale. A service business with mobile teams or an online brand might scale faster than a single café with limited site.
Step 6: Secure your financing & budget
Decide whether you’ll use the full 100K or keep some aside. Make sure you include working capital. Negotiate leases, equipment, and look for second-hand where possible. Possibly borrow a little for growth but respect your risk comfort.
Step 7: Launch smart and test
Don’t spend all your budget on high-risk fit-out before testing demand. For example: pop-up, soft launch, market stall, minimal version. Then expand once validated.
Scaling & Exiting
Even with 100K, you should plan for scaling and a viable exit strategy sooner rather than later.
Scaling
- Once you have one profitable unit, replicate the model (another food truck, another service region, multiple online channels).
- Automate or outsource parts of operations to free your time.
- Monitor data: what days/time have peak, which services/products sell best, and customer feedback.
- Diversify where possible: if you started online product, consider B2B wholesale; if you started a service, add subscription packages.
Exiting
- Keep clean, accurate financials — buyers will look for repeatable profit.
- Build business so it’s not dependent solely on you (makes it more sellable).
- Know value-multiples in your industry (often 2-4 × EBITDA for small service/retail businesses).
- Consider selling when you’ve cleaned up operations and show steady profit for 2-3 years.
What Next? Your 90-Day Action Plan
Here’s how you could use your $100K and get rolling within three months:
Month 1 (Planning & Prep):
- Decide which business idea fits you best.
- Research your market and competition.
- Sketch out budget and financial model.
- Identify location or online niche.
- Begin any needed training/licences.
Month 2 (Setup):
- Secure lease or purchase asset/equipment.
- Build simple branding, website/social presence.
- Hire first staff or contractors if required.
- Set up supplier relationships, inventory, logistics.
- Start pre-marketing (social media, local networking).
Month 3 (Launch & Test):
- Soft launch or pilot period.
- Collect customer feedback, refine operations.
- Monitor cash flow, tweak pricing if needed.
- Launch marketing campaign (local ads, online ads).
- Track performance, adjust.
From here you iterate, refine, and grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is $100K enough?
Yes — it’s a very good amount. Plenty of businesses can launch or acquire with that. What matters is how you allocate it, manage costs and how quickly you generate income.
Q2: Should I buy a business instead of starting one?
Buying existing has advantages (existing revenue/asset) but you must do due diligence. Starting fresh gives freedom but more risk. Choose based on your experience and preference.
Q3: How much working capital should I keep aside?
A good rule is keep 20-30% of your budget for working capital or contingencies. So if you have 100K, plan maybe 70K on assets/setup, 20-30K reserve.
Q4: What industries are best for 100K?
Service businesses, mobile operations, small retail or café (regional), online/e-commerce brands, niche manufacturing. These tend to require lower fixed cost compared to big scale hospitality.
Q5: Can I finance part of it rather than use all 100K?
Yes. You could use part of the 100K as equity and borrow some extra for growth if comfortable. Just ensure you can cover loan repayments and risks.
Q6: What if I pick a wrong idea?
That happens. That’s why testing is vital. Keep initial spend moderate, monitor results, pivot early if needed. Use lean startup methods.
Q7: Do I need a business plan?
Yes. A clear business plan outlining market, cost, revenue, strategy, risk is very helpful — especially if you’re borrowing or bringing in partners.
Q8: How long until I make profit?
It depends on the model. Some service businesses might turn a profit in 6-12 months; retail or café businesses may take 18-24 months. An online brand might be quicker if marketed well. Be realistic.
Q9: Should I keep working full-time while starting?
If possible, yes. It reduces personal income pressure. Many small business owners start part-time and then transition to full-time once the business is stable.
Q10: How should I use the remaining budget after startup costs?
Use it for: marketing/ad spend, building a buffer for lean months, reinvesting for growth, hiring/training, perhaps upgrading equipment.
Final Words
Having $100K at your disposal opens a lot of doors — but it’s not just about the money. It’s about how you use it, what you build, and how you manage the journey.
Pick an idea that aligns with your skills and interests, validate demand, keep your costs under control, build strong operations, and plan for growth. If you do that, then $100K becomes more than just start-up capital — it becomes the springboard for something bigger.
Australia is a great place for small businesses — the lifestyle, proximity, access to global markets (for online/e-commerce), and supportive ecosystems help. You’ve got a head start with that budget, so set yourself up, stay agile, and give your business the best chance to succeed.
Here’s to your next chapter — your business with vision, direction and the budget to make it happen!