Small-Load soil delivery by ute and trailer

Home gardeners, small landscapers, community gardens, schools and renovators who only need a small amount.

You charge per load or per cubic metre, plus a delivery fee. Customers pay for the convenience of small quantities that big trucks won't deliver.

• Towing and loading safely
• Basic knowledge of soil types and garden mixes
• Friendly customer service
• Simple online booking and quoting

• Vehicle and trailer load limits; overloading is unsafe and can bring fines, so check with your state road authority
• Public liability and goods-in-transit insurance, plus whether your car insurance covers business use
• Secure and cover loads on the road
• Heavy lifting and manual handling risks
• Sourcing soil from reputable suppliers to avoid weeds or contamination
• ABN, and GST registration once you reach the turnover threshold

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $500 to $5,000, depending on whether you already own a suitable ute or trailer and what insurance and supplier setup you need. It is a low-cost way into soil supply compared with buying a truck.

Things to check: vehicle and trailer load limits, since overloading is unsafe and can bring fines, with your state road authority. Also check insurance, including whether your car policy covers business use, how to secure and cover loads, and ABN and GST registration.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $800 to $4,000, depending on how many deliveries you make and your pricing. The estimate assumes at least about 6 hours a week. Heavy lifting is involved, so check manual handling risks.