Van and fleet graphics installer

Contractors, tradespeople, delivery firms, food trucks and small businesses wanting branded vehicles.

A fixed fee per vehicle, or an install rate per hour or per job, either charged to the business directly or as a subcontractor to sign and print shops.

• Careful measuring and alignment
• Working with vinyl and heat guns
• Reliability and punctuality
• Basic invoicing and scheduling

• Commercial general liability insurance, and check cover for working on customers' vehicles
• Applying vinyl outdoors is limited by cold, wet and windy weather, so plan for a covered space or seasonal gaps
• Check whether your municipality requires a business licence for mobile work
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold
• Poor application can lead to redoing work, so test on a hidden area first

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on your tools, vinyl supplies, insurance and whether you need a covered space. Treat this as an estimate and price your own setup.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how many vehicles you fit, your hours and your pricing. It is an estimate, and cold, wet or windy weather can create seasonal gaps.

Things to check: commercial general liability insurance, including cover for working on customers' vehicles, whether your municipality requires a business licence for mobile work, and GST/HST registration once you pass the small supplier threshold.