Mini digger operator for domestic jobs

Homeowners, small builders, landscapers, plumbers and drainage firms who need digging done but don't own a machine.

A day rate or half-day rate for you and the machine, or a fixed price per job. Extra income from removing spoil if you are set up to carry it.

• Confident, safe machine operation
• Reading simple plans and setting out levels
• Quoting jobs accurately
• Reliable and tidy on customers' property

• Hitting buried gas, electric or water services is a serious risk, so learn safe digging practice and check HSE guidance on using a cable avoidance tool and service plans
• Public liability and plant insurance, plus cover against machine theft, which is common
• Check that your driving licence entitlement allows you to tow your trailer and machine weight
• If you carry soil or rubble away, check whether you need to register as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency (or equivalent in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland)
• Check council rules on leaving machines and skips on roads and verges

Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £25,000, depending on the machine, trailer or van, and insurance. These are estimates, so check the weight of your machine and trailer against your driving licence before buying.

Monthly revenue is typically around £2,500 to £8,000, depending on how many jobs you win and how many hours you work. It is an estimate of revenue, not profit, before machine and insurance costs.

Check safe digging practice and HSE guidance on cable avoidance tools and service plans, as hitting buried services is a serious risk. Also check public liability and plant insurance, towing entitlement, waste carrier registration, and council rules on roads and verges.