Local van hire with a small fleet

Tradespeople needing an extra van, small businesses, people moving house and anyone who needs a van for a day or a week.

Charges per hire period (hour, day, week) plus a mileage allowance or per-mile charge, with extras such as insurance cover, fuel top-ups and late return fees.

• Customer service at handover
• Organised with bookings and paperwork
• Basic vehicle knowledge and upkeep
• Careful with money and deposits

• Motor insurance for hiring out vehicles is specialist and can be costly, check cover for hirers, damage and theft
• Check each hirer's driving licence and record how you verified it, and ask the DVLA or your insurer how to do this properly
• Keep vans roadworthy: MOT, servicing, tax and safety checks are your responsibility
• Check whether planning permission or a lease restriction affects using a yard or unit for vehicle hire
• Damage disputes and unpaid charges, so use clear hire terms, a check-in and check-out condition report, and photos
• Check when you need to register for VAT as your hire turnover grows

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around £25,000 to £100,000, depending on how many vans you buy or lease, your yard or unit, and your insurance. Specialist hire insurance can be costly, so get quotes early.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £4,000 to £18,000, depending on fleet size, how many days vans are out and your pricing. That is revenue, not profit, so allow for insurance, servicing, tax and finance costs.

Check your motor insurance covers hirers, damage and theft, and ask the DVLA or your insurer how to verify each hirer's licence properly. Also check MOT, servicing and tax duties, planning or lease limits on your yard, and when to register for VAT.