Soil and landscape supply delivery by tipper

Landscapers, gardeners, small builders and homeowners with garden beds, lawns or fill jobs.

You sell soil by the cubic metre or tonne with a delivery charge added. Your profit is the gap between what you pay the supplier and your delivered price.

• Safe truck or trailer driving
• Estimating volumes in cubic metres
• Reliable, on-time service
• Building trade and landscaper contacts

• Heavy vehicle licence class and vehicle weight limits, check with your state road authority
• Public liability, commercial vehicle and goods-in-transit insurance
• Soil quality and contamination: ask suppliers for source details or test results, especially for fill
• Council rules on trucks, load covering and delivery hours
• A tipper truck is a large cost; the startup estimate assumes a used truck or a deposit on one, plus insurance and first loads, so consider a lease or hiring before buying
• ABN, and GST registration once you reach the turnover threshold

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $30,000 to $150,000, depending on whether you buy a used truck or pay a deposit on one, plus insurance and your first loads. Consider leasing or hiring a truck before buying one outright.

Things to check: the heavy vehicle licence class and vehicle weight limits with your state road authority, insurance cover, and council rules on trucks, load covering and delivery hours. Ask suppliers for soil source details or test results, and check ABN and GST registration.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your truck, the customers you win and how many loads you deliver. The estimate assumes at least about 15 hours a week. Building landscaper and trade contacts helps keep loads steady.