Mobile industrial tools and parts supplier

Fabrication shops, engineering workshops, small factories and maintenance teams that want quick delivery without a trip to a trade store.

You buy at trade or wholesale prices and sell at a margin, with repeat orders from regular customers on your route.

• Product knowledge of tools and consumables
• Driving and route planning
• Relationship building with trade customers
• Basic stock control and invoicing

• Public liability and product liability insurance, plus motor vehicle cover for business use
• Cash tied up in stock that doesn't sell, start small and track what moves
• Late payment from business customers, consider payment terms and credit checks
• Some items (such as certain chemicals or safety equipment) may have storage, labelling or standards rules, check with your state work health and safety regulator
• GST registration once turnover reaches the threshold

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on the vehicle you already have, how much stock you carry and your insurance. Starting small and tracking which items sell helps avoid cash tied up in slow stock.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how many workshops you visit, what you stock and how often customers reorder. Hours are estimated from about 20 per week. Revenue is not profit, so allow for stock and vehicle costs.

Check public liability and product liability insurance, plus motor vehicle cover for business use. Also check storage, labelling or standards rules for items like certain chemicals or safety equipment with your state work health and safety regulator, and GST registration once turnover reaches the threshold.