Mobile welding and metal install service
Fabricate and fit gates, railings and frames at customers' properties from a ute or van with portable gear.
- A$8k-35k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
A mobile metalwork service. You build simple items such as gates, handrails, balustrades and steel frames on site or in a borrowed space, and fit or repair them at the customer's property.
Your first three steps
- Check your welding qualifications and get any certification you're missing through a TAFE or registered training provider
- Fit out a ute or trailer with a quality welder, grinder, generator and safety gear, then get an ABN and public liability insurance
- Introduce yourself to local builders, fencing contractors and real estate agents, and take before-and-after photos of your first jobs
Who pays
Homeowners, small builders, landlords, farmers and property managers who need metalwork made, fitted or repaired quickly.
How it makes money
Quoted price per job, or an hourly or call-out rate for repairs, plus materials with a markup. Repeat work from builders and agents helps keep the diary full.
Skills that help
- Welding and metal cutting
- Reading plans and measuring accurately
- Quoting jobs and dealing with customers
Watch out for
- Check your state's rules on which building or structural work needs a licence or engineer's certification
- Balustrades, pool fences and structural items must meet the Building Code, so check requirements before quoting
- Automatic gates usually need a licensed electrician for the wiring
- Public liability and tools insurance, and workers compensation once you hire
- Fire risk from hot work, plus burns, fumes and eye injuries, so use proper protective gear
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: mobile welding and metal install service
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 a mobile welding business in Australia?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on your portable welding and cutting gear, protective equipment and the ute or van you use. Insurance for public liability and tools should be included.
How much can a mobile welder and metal installer earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on your hours, the jobs you take on, such as gates, handrails or frames, and how you quote. This is revenue, before materials and other costs.
What rules apply to mobile metal fabrication work?
Check your state's rules on which building or structural work needs a licence or engineer's certification. Balustrades and pool fences must meet the Building Code, automatic gates usually need a licensed electrician for wiring, and check insurance and hot work safety.
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Photo: dimitrisvetsikas1969 on Pixabay