Mobile tire fitting and seasonal swaps

Busy households, small businesses with a few vehicles, delivery and trades fleets, and car dealers or used car lots.

Fixed price per wheel or per full set, plus charges for new tires, balancing, valve stems and tire sensor service. Busiest in the spring and fall swap seasons.

• Mechanical aptitude and comfort with power tools
• Physical fitness for lifting wheels
• Booking and route planning
• Friendly customer service

• Commercial general liability and commercial vehicle insurance, plus coverage for customers' vehicles if you can get it
• Municipal rules on working on streets or in parking lots, and any business licence, so check with your municipality
• Provincial tire recycling or stewardship fees on new tires, and winter tire rules (for example in Quebec), so check your province
• Correct wheel nut torque and tire pressure sensor handling, since mistakes are a safety risk
• Two peak seasons and quiet winters and summers, so plan cash flow

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on the van, the tire changer, balancer and other equipment you choose, and your insurance.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $4,000 to $18,000, depending on your area, the number of jobs you book and whether you serve fleets. There are two peak seasons and quieter periods, so plan cash flow.

Check municipal rules on working on streets or in parking lots and any business licence. Also check provincial tire stewardship fees and winter tire rules, insurance including commercial vehicle cover, and safe handling of wheel nut torque and tire pressure sensors.