Container sales and hire yard
Keep a yard of storage containers to sell or hire, and deliver them yourself to builders, businesses and households.
- C$60k-250k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
You rent or buy a yard, stock a range of container sizes, and deliver them on your own tilt-deck or similar truck. You sell units outright and hire others out by the month, often with modifications such as shelving or doors.
Your first three steps
- Check zoning and the yard lease terms with your municipality, and price up a few yard locations near main roads
- Get quotes for a used delivery truck and for starter stock of ten or so containers, then work out your hire and sale prices
- Line up your first contractors and builders' merchants, and offer a hire trial to get early repeat customers
Who pays
Builders and contractors needing site storage, retailers and event businesses, farms, and households during renovations or moves.
How it makes money
Sale price per container, monthly hire fees, and delivery and pick-up charges. Hire units earn repeatedly, so repeat business with contractors matters.
Skills that help
- Sales and customer service
- Driving and loading heavy equipment safely
- Managing stock and bookings
- Basic bookkeeping
Watch out for
- Check your provincial commercial driver and vehicle requirements for the truck you plan to use, such as licence class and inspections
- Commercial general liability, commercial auto and stock insurance, plus WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire (rules vary by province)
- Yard zoning, business licence and any storage or environmental conditions from your municipality
- Capital is tied up in stock, so cash flow can be tight in a slow season
- Winter conditions, frozen or soft ground and damaged units returned from hire
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: container sales and hire yard
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a container sales and hire yard in Canada?
Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $60,000 to $250,000, depending on the yard, the delivery truck and how much container stock you hold. Capital tied up in stock can make cash flow tight in a slow season.
How much can a container hire yard earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $15,000 to $70,000, depending on how many containers you sell and hire out, and any modifications you offer. Slow seasons can squeeze cash flow, so plan ahead.
What licences and rules should I check before opening a container yard?
Check your provincial commercial driver and vehicle requirements for the truck, such as licence class and inspections. Also check yard zoning, your business licence and any storage or environmental conditions with your municipality, plus insurance and WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire.
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