According to IBISWorld, the household services sector represents a new frontier with regard to business opportunities, as time-poor, cashed-up consumers increasingly outsource household duties.

The fitness industry in Australia is no longer reserved for toned 20-somethings; people of all ages are increasing or diversifying their physical activity in order to keep fit.

The plumbing industry in Australia has cashed in on the growth of our cities and now covers a wide range of services. For example, many small plumbing businesses are involved in manufacturing items, such as water tanks.

Weddings represent a $4 billion industry in Australia, which isn’t that surprising once you consider the expense of the rings, gown, flowers, photography, ceremony, reception and so on.

Dog walking and washing might seem like a pretty basic business venture, but there’s money to be made from canine-loving consumers.

The floristry industry is one that has a long lifespan – flowers are perennially associated with friends, family and loved ones and enjoy huge demand from a broad customer base.

Bookkeeping is a growing profession and, contrary to popular belief, can be exciting and rewarding. Being a bookkeeper is about understanding how a business works and then providing accurate figures in order for the business to know exactly how well it is doing.

Professional photography was recently identified in an IBISWorld report as one of the slowest growing industries, with an estimated downward drift of 1.2% in 2011.

The catering business is considered one of the most lucrative and profitable home-based business ventures, with a high potential for expansion and growth.

The landscape gardening industry is growing and its scope appears to be widening – clients range from residents to businesses to city councils.

It is a necessity for every smart business to have an online presence and web design agencies are therefore in high demand.

As consumers increasingly gravitate towards products that enhance their health and wellbeing, the health food industry reaps the rewards, helped along by factors such as an ageing population and fears of an obesity “epidemic”.

Operating as a removalist is a large-scale operation and should not be entered into lightly. It requires the right staff and business conditions to ensure ongoing success.

Visiting a beauty salon or spa may involve plenty of relaxing pampering, but running such a business isn’t quite as easy.

Setting up a recruitment agency requires passion, planning and experience. Recruitment is an industry worth millions, but you’ll struggle to survive if you don’t do your research beforehand.

Running a bed and breakfast might seem like a fairly simple and pain-free start-up, but there are several hurdles to success in the sector.

Size matters. Yet the majority of business owners have an ineffective strategy of getting big.

There are countless ways for business owners to boost profits. Raising prices and cutting costs provide a great starting point, but
 entrepreneurs need to think more broadly about strategies for winning 
more business and lifting sales.

Collectively, Australian businesses fork out an immeasurable amount of money to market their offering in a bid to bolster sales.