Start a small pay-by-the-hour car park

Commuters, shoppers, hospital visitors, tradies and workers in areas where parking is hard to find.

Hourly and daily parking fees, plus optional early-bird, weekly or monthly rates for regular users. Income depends on location and how full the lot gets.

• Organising and basic bookkeeping
• Negotiating a lease with a landowner
• Customer service, including handling disputes calmly

• Council planning approval or permits for using land as a car park, which differ by council and state
• Lease terms: length, rent, who pays for surfacing, lighting and repairs, and what happens if the owner sells
• Public liability insurance, and who is responsible for vehicle damage or theft
• Clear signage and terms, and check your state's rules and the Australian Consumer Law before charging fees for overstaying or not paying
• Privacy rules if you use number plate recognition cameras
• GST registration once your turnover reaches the threshold

Startup costs are typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on the site, surfacing, signage, lighting and payment system you choose. These are estimates only, so get quotes and check who pays for repairs under your lease before committing.

Monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on the location, demand and how many bays you have. This is revenue before rent, insurance and other costs, and the figures are estimates, not guarantees.

Check whether your council requires planning approval or permits to use land as a car park, as this differs by council and state. Also check your lease terms, public liability insurance, signage, and state and Australian Consumer Law rules on fees.