Plasterboard supply and site delivery business

Plasterers, small builders, renovators and carpenters who want boards delivered to the site, and sometimes to the right room.

You mark up the materials and charge a delivery fee. Repeat trade accounts and reliable same-day or next-day service bring steady orders.

• Safe driving and load handling
• Building relationships with tradies
• Pricing and keeping track of orders
• Basic knowledge of board types and fixings

• Public liability and goods-in-transit insurance, and a suitable commercial vehicle policy
• Check what licence your vehicle needs for its weight, and the load restraint rules in your state
• Boards are heavy and easily damaged, so plan for safe manual handling and keeping them dry
• Trade customers often want credit terms, so check how you will manage late payments and cash flow
• Margins can be thin against large suppliers, so test your pricing before committing to a vehicle

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on your vehicle, how much stock you buy and your insurance. Margins can be thin against large suppliers, so test your pricing before committing to a vehicle.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on how many builders and plasterers you supply. Trade customers often want credit terms, so check how you will manage late payments and cash flow.

Check public liability, goods-in-transit and commercial vehicle insurance. Also check what licence your vehicle needs for its weight, and the load restraint rules in your state. Plan for safe manual handling and keeping boards dry.