Start a small local car hire fleet

Visitors without a car, locals between cars or waiting on repairs, people needing a second car for a trip or a weekend.

Daily hire fee per car, plus optional extras like a child seat, extra driver or a cleaning fee. Weekly rates help fill quiet periods.

• Organising bookings and handovers
• Basic car care and servicing know-how
• Clear, friendly customer service

• Standard private car insurance usually does not cover hire, so check you have proper commercial hire cover
• Excess and damage disputes, so keep a signed agreement and photo check-in and check-out records
• Check driver licences and age rules for each renter, and your state's rego and roadworthy requirements
• Check council rules on keeping hire cars at or near a residential address
• Registering for GST may be needed once turnover reaches the threshold

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $20,000 to $80,000, depending on how many cars you buy, their age and condition, and your insurance and booking setup. Most of the cost is usually the vehicles.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $800 to $4,000, depending on the number of cars, your rates and how often they are booked. Servicing, rego and insurance still need covering, and revenue is not profit.

Check you have proper commercial hire insurance, as standard private cover usually does not include hire. Check driver licence and age rules, your state's rego and roadworthy requirements, council rules on keeping hire cars at home, and GST registration once turnover reaches the threshold.