Plant Hire Business

[Matt0503]

Hi my name is Matt, i have turned to this forum for some advice. I am planning on buying plant machinery to hire it out. However i have a few questions. I know alot about the machines and what the business looks like in general however im struggling to find any posts about the necessities that are needed to start a business like this. The reason i say this is... my Dad has been hiring tools out a few months back and has had £3.5k worth of tools stolen (Wacker plate, generator etc). The whole process wasnt suspicious and seemed legit but the person used a fake id and ran away to a different country with the tools. The reason im mentioning this is because im worried something similar can happen to the business im trying to start. Is there anything i can do to minimise the risk of this, also where do i turn to get a proper contract in place for customers to sign... and how fo i go about insurance? Im hoping i can get some advice from some experienced people on here. Sorry if this is too much to ask. Im a 19 year old lorry driver at the moment so i have the time and willingness to put into this business aswell as the money however i dont want yo make a huge loss on it.

Any help is appreciate. Thanks Matt

 

[V8Druid]

welcome to the forum Matt ...... think this has been covered in a few other threads ....

 

[Regy53]

Hi Matt

it’s not easy I’m afraid . You should get a contract drawn up or butcher one. Many will run to cpa, the cpa allow you to use there terms but it costs. The fake ID thing is a plenty and your father isn’t alone many experience hire firms have done the same.
Speak with a insurance company like jcb insurance. I had a young lad approach me in a similar way a few years ago. Wanted to do hire and at the time I would have considered it so we sat down over a drink and penned a plan

it all depends how cash rich you are but you needed a lot of kit to make it profitable enough to cover even minimal shared overhead

 

[JD450A]

Need to have either a good bank of customers eager to pay over the odds for using your gear, or enough gear to compete with national prices.

Oh and yes, they will hire it, stick it in a Lorry and take it home to eastern Europe.

 

[Matt0503]

Thanks for the replies. I have done my research but i have decided to make a newer thread to get more and updated info. I dont mind the machines breaking as i have mechanical skills and i know prople that are experienced in this field. Customers are also not a problem as i have done construction since i was 14 so have different contacts. The only real problem is new customers and them stealing equipment. I also know that the police dont do anything. Instead of acting straight away they say you have to take the person to court... that would be logical but hes long gone qith all the equipment he took and used a fake id...

 

[JD450A]

Thanks for the replies. I have done my research but i have decided to make a newer thread to get more and updated info. I dont mind the machines breaking as i have mechanical skills and i know prople that are experienced in this field. Customers are also not a problem as i have done construction since i was 14 so have different contacts. The only real problem is new customers and them stealing equipment. I also know that the police dont do anything. Instead of acting straight away they say you have to take the person to court... that would be logical but hes long gone qith all the equipment he took and used a fake id...

Other fun one is people Hiring stuff on stolen cards....... Not only do you loose the machine, but you will also have to refund the money.

 

[Matt0503]

Other fun one is people Hiring stuff on stolen cards....... Not only do you loose the machine, but you will also have to refund the money.

Exactly, thats the types of things that annoy me. How do the bugger companies deal with stuff like this. Do they just ignore it and carry on? I cant comprehend that there isnt a better system for this

 

[JD450A]

Exactly, thats the types of things that annoy me. How do the bugger companies deal with stuff like this. Do they just ignore it and carry on? I cant comprehend that there isnt a better system for this

Bigger companies don't give a s**t, a £30,000 mini digger is pocket change.

 

[Lancs Lad]

Exactly, thats the types of things that annoy me. How do the bugger companies deal with stuff like this. Do they just ignore it and carry on? I cant comprehend that there isnt a better system for this

It's an absolute joke...
Police basically dont want to know.
If you have a website you basically have to accept you'll get scammed. Only defence is savvy staff who notice stuff that doesn't look right....if you put in place all the stuff the card companies say you need then you'll ever get a sale as it's almost impossible to buy from. Impossible situation...I hate to think how much the big online tool stores get scammed a day

Have you got full C1 etc? If so unless youve a bottomless pocket of cash I'd pursue the wagon route fir now....be creative could be some demand for ticketed lowloader drivers come 1st of April...

 

[Matt0503]

It's an absolute joke...
Police basically dont want to know.
If you have a website you basically have to accept you'll get scammed. Only defence is savvy staff who notice stuff that doesn't look right....if you put in place all the stuff the card companies say you need then you'll ever get a sale as it's almost impossible to buy from. Impossible situation...I hate to think how much the big online tool stores get scammed a day

Have you got full C1 etc? If so unless youve a bottomless pocket of cash I'd pursue the wagon route fir now....be creative could be some demand for ticketed lowloader drivers come 1st of April...

Yeah i have a C+E license. I drive artics for a company at the moment but want to expand my skills in different directions like running a business alongside. Trouble is i cant think of anything else i could invest in. I was thinking about properties but i prefer to be working than just waiting for money and problems each month. Another thing is... i dont want yo be driving lorries for the rest of my life, especially one that doesnt belong to me or a company i would own... thats why im trying to plan something now that i could slowly work on

 

[Lancs Lad]

Running a Plant Hire Business can be a solid venture, especially with the increasing demand for reliable rental equipment across construction and maintenance projects. In cities like Sydney, many contractors rely heavily on equipment hire Sydney services because it saves them the cost of buying, maintaining, and storing their own machinery.

When setting up or growing a plant hire business, it helps to focus on high-demand machines. For example, offering scissor lift hire can attract a wide range of clients—from builders and electricians to warehouse operators—because scissor lifts are essential for safe and efficient elevated work.

The key to long-term success is maintaining your machines well, offering competitive pricing, and delivering quick and dependable service. A plant hire business with the right fleet and customer support can build trust fast and secure repeat clients.

@JD450A didn't you have a bad experience with equipment hire Sydney ?

 

[Brendan]

Would imagine there is more money in the small stuff like Wackers, cement mixers, breakers mobile scaffold or other bits of specialist kit. Advantages they don't take much space, can be moved in a van and pay for them selves really quickly. Mates just bought a new scaff tower for something like £1600, he hired one 5 times in the last few weeks at £100 a pop and has another 4 jobs coming up that he needs one on. Wackers are less than £1k and £30-50 a day to hire

 

[Smiffy]

Would imagine there is more money in the small stuff like Wackers, cement mixers, breakers mobile scaffold or other bits of specialist kit. Advantages they don't take much space, can be moved in a van and pay for them selves really quickly. Mates just bought a new scaff tower for something like £1600, he hired one 5 times in the last few weeks at £100 a pop and has another 4 jobs coming up that he needs one on. Wackers are less than £1k and £30-50 a day to hire

Some of the really od ball small tools would be the best. Speedy want £120 a week for the hikoki rebar bender with batteries, that's like 14 weeks hire.
some machine attachments as well, we pay the same for a breaker for a week for a 1.5t machine as we do for the 1.5t machine. I think bph do quite well out of just the attachment hire, at least gaging by the yards workshops and offices which are incredible.

 

[pettsy]

I’m not sure how you make money out of hiring out kit unless you have a large or long term order. I’ve though about doing it but by the time you’ve delivered, collected and cleaned/repaired it doesn’t seem to make much.

 

[Stroppymonkey]

I’m not sure how you make money out of hiring out kit unless you have a large or long term order. I’ve though about doing it but by the time you’ve delivered, collected and cleaned/repaired it doesn’t seem to make much.

You need a niche. I have one bit of hire kit, and thats a industrial dehumidifier that we use on flooded properties. Its been out on hire a few times, and pays it purchase cost on every hire Only works because we get the 'in' when we get the callout to the property to fix the leak.

 

[TiltyShaun]

You need a niche. I have one bit of hire kit, and thats an industrial dehumidifier that we use on flooded properties. Its been out on hire a few times, and pays it purchase cost on every hire Only works because we get the 'in' when we get the callout to the property to fix the leak.

Is insider trading legal in the plumbing world?

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Is insider trading legal in the plumbing world?

I think its very common in the insurance world!