Mobile forklift service and parts business
Service and repair forklifts at customers' sites, and supply parts and the odd used truck.
- C$12k-50k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
The service side of a forklift dealership. You drive a equipped van to warehouses and yards for routine servicing, repairs, tyre and battery work, and supply parts or help customers find a replacement truck.
Your first three steps
- Get or confirm your technical training, such as heavy equipment or industrial mechanic experience, and look into forklift-specific courses
- Set up a van with core tools, safety gear and an account with a parts supplier
- Visit nearby businesses with forklifts and offer a planned maintenance visit or a back-up service for their current provider
Who pays
Small and mid-sized warehouses, factories, farms, lumber yards and builders' merchants without in-house mechanics.
How it makes money
Hourly or call-out labour rates, planned maintenance contracts, and a markup on parts and consumables.
Skills that help
- Mechanical and electrical fault finding on forklifts
- Reading service manuals and using diagnostic tools
- Reliable scheduling and customer communication
- Working safely around heavy equipment
Watch out for
- Commercial general liability insurance, plus commercial vehicle cover; check whether your policy covers work on customers' equipment
- Check whether your province requires certification or registration for the repair work you plan to do, and for propane or fuel system work
- Check workplace safety rules for lockout procedures and working on battery or hydraulic systems
- Heavy and sometimes hazardous work: plan for personal safety and possible WCB/WSIB coverage
- Winter driving and cold-weather work can slow your schedule
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: mobile forklift service and parts
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 mobile forklift service?
Startup costs are estimated at typically around $12,000 to $50,000, depending on your van, tools, diagnostic equipment and the parts stock you carry.
How much can a mobile forklift service earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $4,000 to $18,000, depending on how many customers and service calls you book, and your pricing. Winter driving and cold-weather work can slow your schedule.
What rules should I check before servicing forklifts?
Check whether your province requires certification or registration for the repair work you plan to do, including propane or fuel system work, and workplace safety rules for lockout and battery or hydraulic systems. Also check commercial general liability and vehicle insurance covering work on customers' equipment.
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