Transport business ideas with startup costs over $20,000
59 ideas
These 59 transport ideas suit people who have savings, equipment finance or a redundancy payout to put behind a business that needs vehicles, vessels, premises or specialist gear. Options include household removals with a truck and crew, starter van hire with one or two vans, and a boat repair workshop.
One-truck skip bin hire service
Deliver and collect skip bins for households and small builders in your area using one bin truck and a small yard.
- A$150k-300k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Refrigerated van delivery for local food businesses
Run a temperature-controlled van delivering chilled and frozen goods for cafes, caterers and producers.
- A$25k-80k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Refrigerated truck runs for wholesalers and producers
Operate a refrigerated truck on regular pallet runs between farms, markets, wholesalers and stores.
- A$60k-250k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Used boat reseller (home-based)
Buy small used boats and trailers, tidy them up and resell them online without a showroom.
- A$12k-60k
- Side hustle
- From home
Small boat dealership with yard
Run a small yard selling new and used boats, with servicing and finance options for buyers.
- A$150k-500k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small local car hire fleet
Rent out one to three well-kept cars by the day, with bookings handled online and keys handed over near home.
- A$20k-80k
- Side hustle
- From home
Ute and van hire from a small yard
Hire utes and vans by the day to movers, tradies and DIYers from a small yard or unit with a simple counter.
- A$200k-500k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Weekly car rental for rideshare drivers
Rent a few suitable cars by the week to drivers who want to work rideshare or delivery without owning a car.
- A$20k-100k
- Side hustle
- From home
Bike repair shopfront
Open a small workshop with a shopfront for walk-in repairs, servicing and parts.
- A$15k-70k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Bike hire shop near trails and waterfront
Rent bikes by the hour or day from a small shop or kiosk near a popular path, beach or town centre.
- A$10k-50k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Campervan hire from home, listed online
Buy one or two campervans and hire them to travellers through online hire marketplaces and your own simple booking page.
- A$25k-90k
- Side hustle
- From home
Small independent motorhome hire fleet
Run a fleet of motorhomes and campervans from a small depot, taking bookings through your own website and agents.
- A$80k-400k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Guided quad bike rides on rural land
Run guided quad bike rides for holidaymakers and groups on a farm or bush property, with a small fleet and a set riding track.
- A$20k-90k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Quad bike hire at events and holiday parks
Trailer a few quad bikes to holiday parks, farm stays and private events and run supervised rides for guests.
- A$15k-60k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Kayak and paddleboard hire stand
Hire kayaks and stand-up paddleboards to holidaymakers and day visitors from a beach or lake spot.
- A$5k-25k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Small boat and tinnie hire
Hire out tinnies and small motor boats from a jetty or boat ramp base to visitors and anglers.
- A$20k-100k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Mobile boat repair and servicing
Drive to boats at marinas, ramps and driveways to service engines and fix fittings, hulls and electrics.
- A$8k-40k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Boat repair workshop
Rent a small shed or unit near the water and repair, service and refit boats brought in by owners.
- A$25k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Storage and pick-and-pack for online sellers
Store stock for small online shops, then pick, pack and post their orders from a leased unit.
- A$5k-25k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Custom boat cover maker
Measure, make and fit made-to-order boat covers from a small workshop for owners whose boats don't suit off-the-shelf covers.
- A$6k-30k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Household removals with a truck and crew
Run a small removals business moving full homes locally and between towns with a truck and a small crew.
- A$50k-150k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Owner-operator taxi driver
Run your own taxi, joined to a booking network, and pick up phone, app and rank fares in your city or town.
- A$35k-150k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Wheelchair-accessible taxi
Run a modified taxi for passengers who use wheelchairs, with steady demand from disability and health transport.
- A$50k-170k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Local travel agency shopfront
Open a small high-street travel shop selling flights and packages to walk-in customers and local regulars.
- A$15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
About these ideas
Before you commit, work out what you will need to buy versus lease, and how many paying jobs it takes to cover finance, insurance, fuel and registration. Check the licences, accreditation and insurance your chosen activity may require in your state or territory, and ask a broker or accountant about financing options. Start by pricing the main asset and a realistic quiet month, then pick the idea that still works.
More ideas
- Local bike shop with servicing
- Motorcycle licence training school
- Heavy vehicle driving school with your own truck
- Caravan and motorhome storage on your land
- Secure caravan and motorhome storage yard
- Scooter hire stand near a tourist spot
- Small-group minibus day tours
- Small-fleet motorcycle hire from a small base
- Micro-fleet motorcycle hire (2 to 3 bikes)
- Trailer hire yard with a mixed fleet
- Local van hire with a small fleet
- Starter van hire with one or two vans
- Small pay-by-the-hour car park
- Specialist piano removal team
- Horse trailer dealership with a small yard
- Used horse float sales and refurbishing
- Wheelchair-accessible van transport
- Local storage, pick-and-pack and dispatch service
- Small truck local freight carrier
- Owner-driver truck on contract to a carrier
- Minibus airport and group transfers
- Weekend minibus hire for events and groups
- Shared airport shuttle van service
- Small freight forwarding office with a niche
- Minibus charter with driver
- Owner-operator full-size coach hire
- Weekend estuary and bay fishing charters
- Full-time offshore and reef fishing charter
- Airport and corporate transfer driver
- Secure outdoor boat and trailer storage yard
- Covered boat storage shed with racking
- Luggage storage shop near a station or tourist area
- Contract school bus route operator
- Private school-run minibus
- Airport transfers and private hire driver
Questions
Should I buy or lease vehicles and equipment for a transport business?
Compare the total cost of each over the time you expect to use the asset. Check deposit, repayments, residual or balloon amounts, insurance, maintenance and resale value. A broker or accountant can explain how each option may affect your cash flow and tax.
What licences and insurance might I need to check?
It depends on the work. Check your driver licence class, any passenger or heavy vehicle requirements, vessel or trainer qualifications, and council or zoning rules for yards and workshops. Also confirm which commercial insurance cover is needed with your state regulator and an insurer.
How can I test demand before spending over $20,000?
Talk to likely customers, look at local competitors' prices and availability, and ask whether you could start smaller, such as with one vehicle or by renting equipment. Try to line up early bookings or repeat clients before you buy major assets.