Local van hire with a small fleet

Tradies who need an extra van, small businesses with seasonal demand, people moving house and event or market stallholders.

Charged by the hire period (hourly, daily or weekly), plus a per-kilometre fee or a kilometre allowance, with extras like insurance excess reduction, cleaning fees and optional add-ons.

• Customer service at the counter and on the phone
• Organising bookings and vehicle servicing
• Basic vehicle knowledge
• Careful record keeping

• Hire vehicle insurance is different from standard cover, check what is covered and the excess for damage and theft
• Check your state or territory's registration and licensing rules for vehicles used for hire
• Council approval for the yard or unit and for any signage
• Quiet periods when vans sit idle but finance and insurance still need paying
• Handling bonds, damage disputes, tolls and fines, and checking each driver's licence
• GST registration once turnover reaches the threshold, and workers compensation if you hire staff

Startup costs are typically around $60,000 to $200,000, depending on how many vans you buy or finance and the yard or unit you use. Quiet periods still carry finance and insurance costs. These are estimates only.

Monthly revenue is typically around $6,000 to $20,000, depending on fleet size, bookings and how often vans sit idle. Finance and insurance still need paying in quiet periods, so plan your cash flow. These are estimates only.

Check that hire vehicle insurance covers damage and theft, and what the excess is. Also check your state or territory's registration and licensing rules for hire vehicles, council approval for the yard, GST registration, and how you will verify driver licences.