Small forklift fleet for local hire

Small warehouses, builders, landscapers, farms, manufacturers and businesses covering a busy season or a broken machine.

Daily, weekly and monthly rental rates, plus delivery and pickup fees, fuel or propane charges and optional damage waivers.

• Basic mechanical knowledge
• Organising bookings and servicing schedules
• Clear dealings with business customers

• Commercial general liability plus cover for your own machines (damage, theft) and for delivery, check with a commercial insurance broker
• Provincial occupational health and safety rules on operator training and on keeping machines in safe condition, check with your provincial regulator
• Yard or storage space may need zoning approval or a municipal business licence, check with your municipality
• Machines are expensive to repair and sit idle in quiet seasons, so keep a cash buffer
• Check that your truck and trailer are rated for hauling forklifts and that you meet commercial vehicle rules in your province

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $20,000 to $90,000, depending on how many used forklifts you buy, their condition and your yard and delivery setup. The estimates assume at least about 25 hours a week.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on fleet size, how often machines are out on hire and your rates. These are revenue estimates, and machines can sit idle in quiet seasons.

Check commercial general liability plus cover for your machines and delivery, provincial occupational health and safety rules on operator training and machine condition, and municipal zoning or licence needs for your yard. Also confirm your truck and trailer are rated for hauling forklifts.