Container sales and hire yard

Builders and contractors, farms, retailers, event and storage users, and households needing a shed or extra space.

Sale margin on each container, ongoing weekly or monthly hire fees, delivery and pick-up charges, and optional modifications such as shelving or roller doors.

• Sales and customer service
• Managing stock and bookings
• Basic knowledge of container condition and handling
• Budgeting and cash flow

• Check with your local council before signing a lease whether the site already allows a container yard or needs planning approval, as approval can take months; also ask about conditions such as signage, hours, stacking height and truck access
• There is generally no specific licence for selling or hiring containers, but check with your council and your state or territory fair trading office whether any local permit or registration applies, and register for an ABN and for GST if your turnover requires it
• If you drive the tilt-tray truck yourself, check with your state or territory road authority which heavy vehicle licence class you need and what load restraint rules apply; using a contracted carrier avoids this
• Public liability, stock, goods in transit and workers compensation insurance once you hire staff
• Yard safety when moving heavy containers, including stacking and loading rules, check with your state's workplace safety regulator
• Hire stock can be damaged or not returned, so use clear contracts and check deposit terms
• Money is tied up in stock, so plan cash flow before buying a large number of containers