Irrigation maintenance for strata and businesses
Keep watering systems running at units, businesses and grounds with regular checks, repairs and seasonal tune-ups.
- A$3k-12k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
Ongoing servicing of existing irrigation systems: checking zones, fixing leaking or blocked sprinklers, adjusting timers and controllers, and setting watering to the season. Small upgrades and extensions come on top.
Your first three steps
- Make a list of strata managers, commercial landscapers and grounds managers in your area and introduce yourself with a simple service offer
- Put together a standard site check list and a fixed price per visit, so you can quote quickly
- Get public liability insurance and an ABN, then offer a one-off system audit to a couple of sites to win your first contracts
Who pays
Strata managers and body corporates, businesses with landscaped grounds, schools, sporting clubs, councils' contractors and grounds managers.
How it makes money
A monthly or quarterly service fee per site, plus charges for repairs, parts and upgrade work. A steady set of sites gives repeat income.
Skills that help
- Fault-finding on sprinklers, valves and controllers
- Organising routes and site visits
- Reliable reporting to property managers
Watch out for
- Check with your state's licensing body which repair work on pipework or backflow devices needs a licensed plumber
- Public liability insurance, and often a site induction or safety paperwork for commercial clients
- Larger clients may pay on 30 day terms or longer, so plan your cash flow
- Contracts can be lost to a cheaper bidder, so keep a mix of clients
- Register for GST once your turnover reaches the threshold
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: irrigation maintenance for strata and businesses
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
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start an irrigation maintenance business?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on your setup. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how many contracts you hold and any extra upgrade work you take on.
Do I need a licence to repair irrigation systems in Australia?
Check with your state's licensing body which repair work on pipework or backflow devices needs a licensed plumber. Also check public liability insurance, site inductions or safety paperwork for commercial clients, and when you need to register for GST.
How long do irrigation maintenance clients take to pay?
Larger clients may pay on 30 day terms or longer, so plan your cash flow. Contracts can also be lost to a cheaper bidder, so keep a mix of clients. Estimates suggest at least around 10 hours a week to get started.
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