Car buyer's agent

Busy professionals, families, first-time buyers, and people who dislike haggling or don't know cars well.

A flat fee per car found, or a percentage of the purchase price. Some brokers add extras like inspection booking or delivery arrangements.

• Good knowledge of used and new cars
• Negotiating and communication
• Spotting problems and checking vehicle history
• Organised and honest

• Licensing differs by state and territory, so check with your state's fair trading or licensing body before charging fees
• Public liability and professional indemnity insurance
• Be open about commissions: don't take payment from dealers without telling the client
• Check for finance owing and written-off status (PPSR) on every car
• Car purchases are high value, so a bad recommendation can be costly. Use independent inspections.

Startup costs are typically around $500 to $2,500, depending on your tools, insurance, website and how you set up. These are estimates, so price up your own setup before you begin.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how many clients you take on and whether you charge a flat fee or commission. The estimate assumes at least around 8 hours a week.

Licensing differs by state and territory, so check with your state's fair trading or licensing body before charging fees. Also check public liability and professional indemnity insurance, being open about commissions, and PPSR checks on every car.