Used horse float sales and refurbishing

Horse owners, riders, small studs and trainers looking for a safe, affordable float, and owners who want an existing float upgraded.

Profit from the gap between purchase plus refurbishment cost and sale price, plus fees for conversions, repairs and fitting accessories.

• Mechanical, welding or fabrication skills
• Spotting good-value trailers and assessing condition
• Sales and negotiation
• Basic bookkeeping and stock tracking

• Check whether your state or territory requires a motor dealer licence to sell trailers, and what consumer law warranty obligations apply
• Check for finance owing and stolen vehicle status on every float before buying, for example through PPSR
• Structural, brake and coupling modifications may need engineering certification and trailer compliance, so check with your state transport authority
• Premises insurance, public liability and stock cover are important with high-value items
• Stock ties up cash and floats can take months to sell
• Council approval for workshop or yard use, and storage and environmental rules for waste

Startup costs are typically around $15,000 to $70,000, depending on how much stock you buy, your yard or workshop set-up and the tools you need. Stock ties up cash, and floats can take months to sell, so allow for that.

Check whether your state or territory requires a motor dealer licence to sell trailers, and what consumer law warranty obligations apply. Also check for finance owing and stolen status on every float, for example through PPSR, and whether modifications need engineering certification.

Monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how many floats you sell, whether you offer conversions or customer repairs, and how quickly stock moves. These are revenue estimates, not profit, and the work is typically around 20 hours a week or more.