Household removals with a truck and crew

Run a small removals business moving full homes locally and between towns with a truck and a small crew.

Removal workers carrying boxes and furniture into a house on a moving day.
Startup costA$50k to A$150k
Monthly revenueA$8k to A$35k
Time needed30+ h/week
First incomeMonths
  • A$50k-150k
  • Full-time
  • Out and about
  • Licence or permit needed

Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.

What it is

A full-service removals business with a removal truck and two or three people, handling packing, loading, transport and unloading for whole-house moves.

Your first three steps

  1. Check the licence class needed for the truck size you plan to buy or lease in your state
  2. Get an ABN, then arrange removals-specific insurance, including goods in transit and workers compensation
  3. Build a quoting sheet, then line up your first crew members and partner with real estate agents
Who pays

Families, couples, downsizers, landlords and small offices moving homes or premises.

How it makes money

Hourly rate for the truck and crew, or a fixed quote based on volume and distance, plus extras like packing materials and storage.

Skills that help
  • Planning and organising jobs
  • Managing and training a crew
  • Quoting accurately and handling customers
Watch out for
  • Check your state's rules on heavy vehicle licences and any fatigue or driving hours requirements for longer trips
  • Workers compensation insurance once you hire, and check your obligations on pay, super and contractors
  • Goods in transit insurance, since damage claims on valuable items can be costly
  • Truck costs, fuel and maintenance can squeeze margins, so price jobs carefully
  • Check whether GST registration applies once your turnover reaches the threshold

Deep research report · Australia

Everything you need to start: household removals with a truck and crew

Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.

  • Startup costs with real prices
  • Licences, registration and rules
  • Pricing: what others charge
  • Break-even example
  • Finding your first customers
  • 30-day launch plan
  • Risks and how to reduce them
Ready in about 2 minutes · one-off payment, tax included

See a full sample report

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start a household removals business in Australia?

Startup costs are typically around $50,000 to $150,000, depending mainly on the truck you buy or finance, plus equipment, insurance and marketing. These are estimates, so get quotes before committing to a vehicle.

How much can a removals business with a crew make?

Monthly revenue is typically around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on how many jobs you complete, the distances involved and your crew size. Truck costs, fuel and maintenance can squeeze margins, so price jobs carefully.

What licences and rules should I check for a removals business?

Check your state's rules on heavy vehicle licences and any fatigue or driving hours requirements for longer trips. Also check workers compensation, pay, super and contractor obligations once you hire, goods in transit insurance, and GST registration at the threshold.

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Photo: congerdesign on Pixabay

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