Small-fleet motorcycle hire from a small base

Tourists and interstate or overseas visitors, locals without their own bike, and riders wanting a different bike for a trip or event.

Daily and weekly hire fees, plus extras like gear hire, luggage, one-way hire or add-on insurance excess reduction. Income is seasonal in many areas, so busy periods carry the quieter ones.

• Motorcycle knowledge and basic mechanical sense
• Customer service and clear handovers
• Bookings and fleet scheduling
• Careful money and cash flow management

• Insurance is the big hurdle. Check that your policy covers hire use, theft, damage and renter liability, and what excess customers must pay
• Registration and compulsory third party (CTP) rules differ by state and territory, so check with your state's transport authority how hire bikes must be registered
• Check licence rules for renters, including licence class, learner or provisional restrictions and overseas licences
• Use clear rental agreements, bonds and damage inspection photos at every handover
• Check your state's workplace safety and workers compensation rules before hiring staff
• Fleet costs, depreciation and quiet seasons can strain cash flow

Startup costs are typically around $40,000 to $180,000, depending on how many bikes you buy or finance, plus your premises and insurance. Fleet costs and depreciation can strain cash flow, so plan for them.

Monthly revenue is typically around $6,000 to $28,000, depending on fleet size, bookings and the season. Quiet seasons can strain cash flow, so plan your finances carefully.

Check that your insurance covers hire use, theft, damage and renter liability. Check how hire bikes must be registered, including CTP, with your state transport authority, plus licence rules for renters, including overseas licences, and workers compensation before hiring staff.