Small tool hire and sales yard

Local tradies, builders, landscapers and homeowners doing renovations, who pay for hire by the day or week and buy supplies at the counter.

Hire fees on equipment you own, plus margin on product sales. Delivery, cleaning, damage and late-return fees add to income, and trade accounts bring regular business.

• Knowledge of construction tools and safe use
• Basic mechanical maintenance
• Counter service and bookkeeping
• Managing stock and a hire fleet

• Hire equipment loss, theft and damage, so check insurance options and take deposits
• Hire agreements, inspections and safe use instructions, and whether any equipment you hire needs the operator to hold a licence or ticket
• Test and tag requirements for electrical tools, check your state's rules
• Council zoning and approval for the premises, and rules on storing fuel or gas
• High upfront cost and rent, so test with a modest fleet before expanding
• Public liability and product liability insurance, and workers compensation once you hire staff

Startup costs are typically around $60,000 to $200,000, depending on your premises, the size of your hire fleet and your sales range. Testing with a modest fleet first can help. These are estimates only.

Monthly revenue is typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on your location, fleet, hire rates and counter sales. It usually means about 40 hours a week at minimum. Treat these figures as estimates only.

Check insurance for equipment loss, theft and damage, hire agreements and safe use instructions, and whether operators need a licence or ticket. Also check test and tag rules in your state, plus council zoning and fuel or gas storage rules.