Small forklift hire fleet
Buy a few used forklifts, keep them serviced and hire them with delivery to local warehouses and builders.
- £15k-60k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
7,895 UK companies in this field, 21% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 77390 “Renting and leasing of other machinery, equipment and tangible goods n.e.c.”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
You own a small fleet of used forklifts and lift trucks, kept at a yard or unit. You hire them out by the day, week or month, deliver them on a trailer or lorry and arrange servicing and safety checks.
Your first three steps
- Call local warehouses, builders and existing hire firms to learn which machine types and rates are in demand
- Price up one or two good used forklifts, a trailer or delivery option, and quotes for hire insurance
- Line up a servicing and thorough examination provider and draft simple hire terms with a solicitor or trade body template
Who pays
Local warehouses, factories, builders' merchants, building firms and small manufacturers that need extra capacity or a short-term machine.
How it makes money
Daily, weekly or monthly hire rates, plus delivery and collection charges and sometimes extras such as spare gas bottles or fuel.
Skills that help
- Mechanical know-how or a trusted engineer
- Organising bookings and deliveries
- Dealing with business customers and chasing payment
Watch out for
- Lifting equipment usually needs regular thorough examination under LOLER, check the current requirements and keep records
- Hire and plant insurance as well as public liability, check what covers theft and damage by customers
- Customers' operators should hold suitable training, check what proof you will ask for before handing over a machine
- Check your driving licence category and trailer weight limits for delivering machines
- Check planning and lease terms for storing and servicing machines at your yard or unit
- Late payers and damage disputes, consider deposits, credit checks and clear hire terms
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: small forklift hire fleet
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: 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 forklift hire business?
Estimates suggest startup costs typically around £15,000 to £60,000, depending on how many used forklifts you buy, the trailer or lorry for delivery, and your yard or unit.
How much can a forklift hire business earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around £2,000 to £10,000, depending on fleet size, how often machines are on hire and your rates. This is an estimate of revenue before costs such as servicing, insurance and yard rent, not profit.
What rules should I check before hiring out forklifts?
Things to check include: regular thorough examination of lifting equipment under LOLER and keeping records; hire and plant insurance plus public liability, including theft and customer damage; proof of operator training; your licence category and trailer limits; and planning and lease terms for your yard.
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