Small independent motorhome hire fleet

Domestic holidaymakers, international tourists and sometimes film crews or event organisers who need a vehicle for a set period.

Nightly or weekly hire fees by vehicle type, plus add-ons such as bedding, camp chairs, extra drivers and one-way hire fees, with seasonal pricing.

• Managing bookings and vehicle schedules
• Customer service and handover walk-throughs
• Managing vehicle maintenance and finance

• Hire vehicle insurance is expensive and excess terms matter, so compare policies carefully
• Check your state's rules for registering and operating rental vehicles
• Check the licence class needed for heavier motorhomes, and what licence renters must hold
• Check what your depot's zoning allows and whether you need council approval
• Check the Australian Consumer Law and what your terms can fairly say about bonds and damage
• Check workers compensation requirements once you hire staff
• Business is seasonal, and vehicle finance repayments continue through the quiet months
• Vehicles lose value, so allow for depreciation when you plan prices

Startup costs are typically around $80,000 to $400,000, depending on how many vehicles you buy or finance and your depot. These are estimates, so allow for finance repayments that continue through quiet months.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $10,000 to $50,000, depending on fleet size, season and booking levels. That is revenue, not profit, so allow for insurance, servicing, finance and vehicle depreciation.

Compare hire vehicle insurance and excess terms carefully. Check state rules for registering and operating rental vehicles, licence classes, depot zoning and council approval, Australian Consumer Law on bonds and damage, and workers compensation when you hire.